Fire Science Students Ascend 78 Stories for Memorial 9/11 Climb

Emily Denholm, Public Information Office
9/16/2025

Iowa Central Community College’s Fire Science students honored the lives of the 343 firefighters who died on September 11, 2001, by completing the program’s annual 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb earlier this week.

The event challenged students to ascend the equivalent of 78 stories—the height of the World Trade Center towers—while wearing full firefighting gear, including oxygen tanks, weighing nearly 65 pounds. Students were separated into two groups based on their year in the program, with first- and second-year students each taking separate routes designed to reflect the layout of the Iowa Central Fire Science Training Facility.

“This climb was just to get to the victims,” said Lenny Sanders, Fire Science Program Coordinator. “Once those firefighters reached their assigned floor, that’s when the real work began. We want our students to understand the courage and commitment it took that day and what it means to serve in this profession.”

Participants represented a diverse group of future first responders—young men and women, athletes and non-athletes, some from the local area and others from across the country. Many had additional commitments following the climb, such as classes, athletic practices, or jobs, yet each pushed through the two-hour challenge with determination, knowing the deeper purpose behind their effort.

The memorial concluded with a final climb to the roof of the facility, where students gathered for a prayer led by a second-year Fire Science student.

The 9/11 Memorial Climb has become a powerful tradition for Iowa Central, instilling in students both respect for the fallen and a deeper understanding of the selfless service required of firefighters.