Nine men and women graduated from Vashon Island Fire & Rescue’s firefighter academy on Saturday, including seven who will go on to volunteer for the district.

Leaders who addressed those gathered at the ceremony, held at the Vashon Theatre, spoke highly of the group as exceptionally talented, although they cautioned that the new firefighters are just at the beginning of the learning process after more than four months of intense instruction.

In her remarks, the valedictorian of the group, Karen Jensen, said that each person is now ready to go out into the community and do well and is also prepared to do the most good that they can.