FERNDALE, Mich. — Two Ferndale High School alumni are carrying their Ferndale experiences into careers dedicated to serving others.

Darryle Cross, Class of 2024, and Dorian DeRiso, Class of 2019, are currently training as recruits with the Detroit Fire Department (DFD), entering the academy together this year after taking different paths toward the same calling.

For Cross, joining the academy represents how far he has come since his days as a Ferndale student. He credits the diversity, relationships and structure he experienced in the district with helping him mature, find direction and develop the resilience he now relies on in training.

A former Ferndale football player, Cross said athletics played an important role in his growth. His coaches and teammates challenged him to become more disciplined and persistent, while the larger Ferndale community gave him a place to find support and connection.

“Ferndale is very diverse. You can always find your friend group,” Cross said. “There are a lot of good people there. I was just one of the bad apples who had to grow up.”

Cross also advocated expanding athletic opportunities for students, including combined sports opportunities that would give more students a chance to compete.

DeRiso’s Ferndale experience was shaped largely by the relationships he developed with educators.

His family first connected with Eric Bruner, now principal of Ferndale Middle School, when DeRiso’s sisters attended Coolidge. That connection eventually grew into a mentorship, with Bruner helping DeRiso navigate challenges, advocate for himself and work through concerns during his years in Ferndale.

After graduating in 2019, DeRiso worked several jobs before recognizing a common thread: wherever he worked, he went out of his way to help people.

One experience in particular stuck with him. While working at Sam’s Club, DeRiso encountered a customer who needed a funeral poster after a printing issue occurred and the photo center had closed. Although he had little experience with the equipment, he spent hours trying to resolve the problem.

That experience helped DeRiso recognize that service was more than something he occasionally did; it came naturally to him.

“I don’t like people being sad around me if I can help it,” DeRiso said. “Over time I realized that helping people is what I naturally do, so being a firefighter just made sense.”

That realization eventually led him to the Detroit Fire Department. DeRiso initially deferred starting the March academy to complete EMT training at Macomb before joining the July academy class alongside Cross.

Now training together, Cross and DeRiso have found another community within the academy. Both describe the camaraderie among recruits as one of the most meaningful parts of the experience, with classmates pushing one another physically and mentally while building relationships through the challenges they face together.

For Cross, the experience has also reinforced the responsibility that comes with becoming a firefighter. Knowing another person’s life could depend on his actions has given even greater meaning to the demanding physical training and medical knowledge required throughout the academy.

Ferndale Public Schools Superintendent Camille Hibbler said seeing graduates pursue careers rooted in service reflects the district’s commitment to helping students discover their strengths and envision meaningful futures beyond graduation.

“Darryle and Dorian’s stories show our students that there is no single path to success,” Hibbler said. “The relationships they built, the challenges they overcame and the lessons they learned in Ferndale are now helping shape them as young men and public servants. We are incredibly proud to see them use those experiences to serve others and make an impact.”

As Cross and DeRiso continue through the Detroit Fire Department academy, both are focused on completing their training and beginning careers serving Detroit residents.

Their journeys also remind us that a school community's impact can extend far beyond graduation. From coaches and mentors to classmates and extracurricular opportunities, the relationships students build along the way can help shape where they go next.

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About Ferndale Public Schools

Founded in 1887, Ferndale Public Schools serves approximately 3,100 students from the communities of Ferndale, Pleasant Ridge, Oak Park, Royal Oak Township and portions of Hazel Park. The district provides a comprehensive educational experience from early childhood through high school, offering rigorous academics, innovative learning opportunities, award-winning arts and athletics, career and technical education, and comprehensive social-emotional supports. Recognized for its commitment to equity, inclusion and student-centered learning, Ferndale Public Schools empowers every student to discover their potential, achieve academic success and become engaged members of their communities.

To learn more about Ferndale Public Schools, visit the website. To stay up to date on district news, events and announcements, visit the News page.