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Lubbock 101 graduates 26 participants; students awarded trophies, street sign at city council ceremony
Summary
At its May 13 meeting the Lubbock City Council recognized the largest Lubbock 101 class to date: 26 graduates completed the eight‑session civic program. The program included 24 hours of instruction, three field days with hands‑on demonstrations and a cookout by the Lubbock Professional Firefighters Association.
At its May 13 meeting the Lubbock City Council paused regular business to recognize the Lubbock 101 class of 2025, a civic‑education program that assembled 26 participants for classroom sessions and field days designed to show how city operations work.
City staff summarized the program as the largest Lubbock 101 class to date. The program included five classroom sessions and three field days totaling 24 direct hours of instruction, 29 participating city departments, tours of eight city facilities, hands‑on equipment demonstrations and opportunities to operate municipal vehicles and equipment.
"That was insane. It was so much fun. I've been playing with all the equipment, getting to try everything out, see how everything functions," said Jake Quintanilla, a Lubbock 101 participant, in a video shown during the meeting.
Program administrators said the class covered a range of topics: an overview and civic roles (including sessions with the city attorney's office and city secretary's office); growth and development topics presented at the new police headquarters (engineering, planning, building safety and code enforcement); the city's finances and budget at Fire Station 1 with the chief financial officer; cultural and recreation topics including the Silent Wings Museum; and emergency‑services and public‑health topics at the Emergency Operations Center. Field days included fleet services, streets, parks, solid waste, water treatment and airport operations.
Brian Bearden of the pipeline department organized a timed skills competition on the first field day; Elizabeth Borer, a current city employee who will move to the pipeline department, won first place in the skills drill. Jim Wells, one of 11 participants with perfect attendance, won the random drawing for a collectible city street sign that graduates may legally own after meeting the program's attendance requirement.
The program also reserves two seats each year for students in the Texas Tech Master of Public Administration program, staff said. The Lubbock Professional Firefighters Association provided a cookout at the final field day.
City staff thanked city council and the many departments that participated and noted the program aims to increase civic understanding and prepare citizens to serve on boards and commissions. The council photo opportunity and certificate presentation closed the recognition.
The city manager and staff encouraged residents to sign up for future Lubbock 101 classes, which the city typically offers annually.
