Alumni Spotlight:
Meet Rylynne Jenkins, a 2019 graduate of Reading HS whose successes should be acknowledged and praised. On February 24th, Rylynne graduated from the Cincinnati Fire Department's 120th Recruit Class, becoming the youngest of only six females in the class of 52 recruits. Her journey to become a firefighter for the city of Cincinnati was nothing short of incredible.
Rylynne's journey began in July 2021 with a written test, followed by a physical agility test, an oral interview, and a polygraph test. She was one of the first recruits to be called back, which is a remarkable accomplishment in itself. Rylynne then completed 16 weeks of mentally and physically grueling training where she was expected to show up even when she was sick. Her grit and resiliency during this process really stood out.
As a woman in the fire service, Rylynne's journey was especially challenging. She faced adversity and underestimation every day. Despite the challenges, she persevered, running multiple miles a day, lifting 32ft ladders above her head, going into real fires blind, repelling and climbing from windows with "victims," all while retaining a vast amount of information. As a recruit she had to learn the science behind fire, how to keep herself, coworkers, and victims safe, how to treat victims, how to deliver babies, and much more.
Despite all the hard work and adversity, Rylynne doesn't expect or want any praise or recognition for her hard work. She refused to be treated differently during drill school because of her gender. She is humble, kind, and obviously determined.
Rylynne's accomplishment is truly remarkable, and we are proud to spotlight her as an outstanding alumna of Reading High School. Congratulations, Rylynne!
This spotlight was nominated by Makena Stacy. If you have a Reading grad you would like to highlight please let us know!