Igniting a Career

When Riley Whitener began his journey at Gaston College in fall 2021, he had already set his sights on a career as a firefighter. That dream quickly became reality when he joined the City of Gastonia Fire Department on April 11, 2022.

Now a member of the department’s special operations teams, Whitener completed his Fire Protection Technology degree at Gaston College in spring 2023.

“I chose Gaston College because of prior experiences in the fire certification courses I attended and I began to learn about the degree paths that were available to me,” said Whitener, a Taylorsville native who graduated from Alexander Early College in 2021 before enrolling at Gaston College.

Whitener found Gaston College’s programs particularly appealing because they allowed him to continue working while pursuing his education. “That was the best part of my Gaston College experience,” he explained. “The flexibility of being able to work toward my degree program while being able to work a full-time job and the online/virtual learning opportunities were the best option for me to get my degree while also gaining valuable work experience at the same time.”

Through his determination and the skills honed by his classes and degree at Gaston College, Whitener approaches his daily work with enthusiasm. “I aspire to come to work every day and learn something new, exemplify hard work ethic, increase my knowledge and skill level and to one day promote,” Whitener said.

Whitener remains confident in his future and credits Gaston College with providing a solid foundation for his professional career. “I have not expanded my education to any higher levels yet. However, I plan on pursuing more education in the years to come,” Whitener said. “I have been able to own my momentum by seamlessly and easily getting certification classes taken and continuing education completed to upkeep and expand knowledge on top of my degree.”

Whitener’s story exemplifies how Gaston College empowers students to reach further and achieve more, providing the support and inspiration needed to transform moments into life-changing momentum.