Firefighter cadets move up the ladder

The city of Rio Rancho has 10 new heroes.

On Feb. 22, Rio Rancho Fire & Rescue held a graduation ceremony for Academy Class 19 and welcomed some new faces to its family.

“Twenty weeks ago this journey started, and I will tell you, every single one of them have changed. They are not the same person as they sit in front of you today as they were 20 weeks ago,” Fire Chief James DeFillippo said during his speech. “I am proud to say that they are all better off for it, and Rio Rancho Fire & Rescue will be better off for it as well.”

After a 20-week training period, Academy Class 19, which consisted of 10 cadets, was officially promoted to the rank of firefighter.

“We are all driven, very hard working, super determined to keep Rio Rancho the way it is and just benefit the community the best way that we can,” Academy Class 19 graduate Alyxandria Loidolt said.

The 10 graduates from Academy Class 19 were Grant Forrester, Derik Gallegos, Jonathan Glen, Alyxandria Loidolt, Caleb McEwen, Megan Meeks, Patrick Nielsen, Adriano Quintana, Xavier Ridout and Trenton Segura.

“It was a tough 20 weeks. We struggled through some hard times; we had really good times together,” Jonathan Glen said, who was one of the 10 cadets promoted. “I am proud of every single one of us.”

Glen was born in Scotland, competed in track and field at the University of New Mexico and has wanted to be a firefighter since he was a kid.

Earning the special distinction of ‘Top Cadet’ was Megan Meeks. It is an honor instructors determine based on merit, leadership and values.

“I enjoy the work that I do, and I don’t ever dread it,” Meeks said, whose boyfriend graduated from Bernalillo County’s Fire & Rescue Academy on the same night. “It’s very rewarding; it’s a very difficult career, but it’s brought me some of my closest friends, taught me a lot of lessons, and I wake up every morning enjoying going to work.”