Students and faculty at the Professional Academies Magnet at Lofton High School honored the City of Waldo for donating a fire engine to the school’s fire and emergency medical service magnet.

The sparkle of the freshly washed fire engine matched the sparkling gratitude of students in the Professional Academies Magnet at Lofton High School on Oct. 14.

On Thursday, Lofton High School held a dedication ceremony in honor of the City of Waldo. Students and faculty gathered to thank Waldo for the dedication of its fire engine to the school’s fire and emergency medical service magnet.

Beth Hardee, director of the magnet, asked for the engine about a year ago when she heard Alachua County was taking over Waldo’s fire station. Almost immediately the commission unanimously voted to donate the engine to the high school.

Hardee said the magnet has used the engine since the end of last year.

Hardee stressed that the fire engine is the student’s engine. And while they do not drive the truck, they do handle everything else. Students load hoses, practice spraying with the hoses, clean the truck, pump water from the engine and manage other engine responsibilities.

The event on Thursday was created to officially recognize the City of Waldo for the gift. A ‘title’ for the engine and the keys were handed over from city officials to the school.

At the event, Waldo City Manager Kim Worley said that the youth are the future, which is why the city wanted to donate the engine.