Employees from Albemarle Corporation’s Pasadena Plant recently celebrated Fire Safety Month with Jackson Intermediate School students through a mentoring program the group holds at the school.

Thirty Jackson students (10 from each grade level) are nominated yearly by counselors and teachers to participate in the mentoring program. Every month, about 20 Albemarle employees meet with the chosen students and provide a pizza lunch and a program or guest speaker. For October, Albemarle’s Fire Chief Dick Waller and other firemen and emergency responders discussed fire safety and prevention with the students.

“The most important thing for students to understand about fire safety and fire prevention is to ‘get out,’” Waller said. “Get out of the structure and have everyone meet at a predetermined location so everyone is accounted for. When the fire department arrives, you can tell them everyone is out of the house and safe.”

Waller said he spoke about fire science and fire prevention and his colleagues discussed their education with the students. He also told students about the importance of smoke detectors and practicing exit drills at home and at school.

“Having a working smoke detector saves lives,” Waller said. “If you don’t have one, get one. If you do have a smoke detector, make sure you test it and replace the batteries at least twice a year.”

Jackson principal Paula Sword suited up to demonstrate what firefighters wear when entering a burning structure.

“The equipment we wear is for our protection, but the most important piece of equipment we have is the knowledge we acquire from continuous learning and training,” Waller told the students.

The students also toured Albemarle’s ladder fire truck and learned about its different functions.

“The monthly mentoring sessions provide an opportunity for the students and mentors to interact as well as to hear interesting and informative presentations about possible career and educational opportunities,” said Albemarle’s Human Resources Manager Rick Schriever. “The students really enjoy the interactive programs.”

Schriever said some of the favorite presentations in the past have been the AD Players, Fire Safety Month, fighter pilots from Ellington Air Force Base and a games session that is held at least once a year. Schriever said Termite Watkins from PrimeLending will present this year, and he hopes to have Pasadena High School’s JROTC present as well.

“Special programs and speakers influence social behaviors in a positive way,” said Sword. “By sharing their life experiences about their careers and positive social interactions, the speakers help the students realize there are many ways to accomplish positive goals. They also model the need and reward of giving back to the community, and the students are provided with opportunities to get to know adults in our community and accept and appreciate them for their knowledge and experiences.”

Sword said the activities are student-centered and provide opportunity for students to think about the choices they have for their future careers.

“Our students are the future of the business community, and it’s important for them to know the business community supports their efforts to become productive citizens,” Sword said. “The mutual respect of students and business community is vital.”

Schriever said the program is rewarding for both the students and Albemarle employees.

“Our employees offer the students outside influence from their regular sphere of influence, which is important to their academic success,” Schriever said. “Our presence shows them there are adults who care about them and what they do. In addition to the camaraderie, this program also provides our employees with the opportunity to feel like they’re influencing a young person’s life to help guide them in the right direction, and that alone is very powerful.”

Aside from their contributions as mentors, Albemarle employees have been making a difference in the lives of Jackson students for more than 15 years by sponsoring school activities, serving as science fair and social studies jeopardy judges, and through monetary contributions for computers, school supplies, food, and clothing for school organizations.

“Albemarle and this program support the exit outcomes of our district as well as Jackson’s mission and vision of producing life-long learners, societal contributors, multi-faceted thinkers, quality producers, collaborative workers, effective communicators and self-directed learners,” Sword said. “There isn’t a monetary value that can be placed on a program like this.”