While most Ohio Northern University students carry backpacks, Michael Ticchione carries something a bit more urgent: an emergency pager.
A junior construction management major from Macedonia, Ohio, Michael serves as a volunteer firefighter for the Ada-Liberty Township Fire Department. He is one of 25 dedicated community members who respond to 9-1-1 calls, from field fires to motor vehicle accidents, at a moment’s notice, day or night.
“People always ask me why I do it, because you don’t get paid and it’s a huge commitment,” Michael says. “I tell them it’s incredibly fulfilling to help people on their worst day.”
Michael was inspired to join the force his freshman year after a drive past the local station. Seeing the volunteers outside washing trucks, he called the next day with one question: “What do I need to do to join?”
Since then, he has completed over 400 hours of training to receive his Firefighter 1, Firefighter 2, and EMT certifications.
In February, when a massive fire broke out at Viva Maria’s in downtown Ada, Michael was one of the first on the scene. While the building was a total loss despite heroic effort, no one was injured. But Michael has responded to many horrific accident scenes where every minute counts and lives are at stake.
“In stressful situations, you fall back on your training,” he explains, noting that the “brotherhood” of the department provides the support he needs on hard days.
While Michael has served for three years, he wants credit to go to the veterans on the force, many who’ve volunteered for 20+ years.
“That’s a lot of times being woken in the middle of the night and leaving the holiday table and your family,” he said.
Michael hopes others consider volunteering in this capacity. He’s developed skills in leadership and decision making, which will help him succeed in the future as a construction manager.
“You put all this effort in so you can affect people’s lives in a positive way,” he said. “And I think that’s the definition of success.”
