VIDEO: Northville Students Learn About Hometown Heroism From Firefighters

Clad in the gear firefighters wear everyday, about a dozen students made their way through an obstacle course, wielded a fire hose and learned firsthand about what Northville Township's fire department does.

The event, held on Thursday, was a collaborative effort between the fire department and organizers of . The website matches Northville students with local volunteer opportunities and provides awards for students on the basis of service.

One of the awards, the Northville Hometown Hero award is given based on hours logged with local hometown heroes and becoming a more aware citizen, said CIA for Students co-founder and event organizer Miranda Niemiec. Such awards are important, she said, because most volunteer efforts go unrecognized on college applications.

Township fire department training coordinator Jesse Marcotte said the fire department hoped to promote awareness of what it does through the event.