Bluffton students surprised with job offers during graduation

First came the formal introductions. The traditional speeches, in between a few musical numbers, followed.

All that was left was for the Class of 2016 to grab their diplomas and reposition their tassels to make it official.

But there was a pause. And then the commencement went off script.

A handful of unexpected guests arrived. Well, they were expected. But only a few had prior knowledge.

Unlike those lucky enough to grab a seat within Bluffton High School’s packed gym, or members of the overflow crowd unlucky enough to watch commencement on a projection screen from the school’s cafeteria, these men were welcomed on stage.

They were members of the Bluffton Township Fire District.

They noted the fire district’s Explorer program with the school. The program, open to students at least 14 years old, teaches vocational skills and provides a fast track for those with firefighting aspirations.

Graduating seniors enrolled in the program were asked to stand. The crowd applauded.

Then two of those students — Tyler Griffin and Matthew Wallet — were invited on stage.

Griffin and Wallet had faced tough hurdles and evaluations.

They were praised for their hard work and determination.

The students looked around, as if to ask, “Where is this going?”

And then it came.

In front of their nearly 400 graduating peers as well as the thousands of onlookers, they were offered jobs with the department.

The crowd erupted.

The students hugged each of the firefighters on stage. And then they hugged each other.

Before they even had their diplomas in hand, they had jobs — and careers — waiting for them.

Read the news on any given day, and you’re likely to come across a piece on how more millennials are living at home or how the U.S. job market isn’t what we want it to be.

But for two Explorers turned firefighters, the future looks bright.

This story was originally published June 3, 2016 at 3:54 PM with the headline "Bluffton students surprised with job offers during graduation."