Firefighting, Fitness, and Furniture Design are Passions for Hillier Freshman

When NJIT industrial design major Christopher Hasenkopf isn't in class this semester, it might be because he's out saving someone's home, office or even their life.

His local volunteer fire station in New Providence practically didn't need a dalmatian for their mascot — "I've been going around the station since I moved here when I was three. They had a lot of open houses," he joked. He joined the junior firefighter corps two days after turning 16, which is the earliest age allowed, and entered the Morris County Public Safety Training Academy at 18.

Five weeks later, "I graduated and I was Firefighter 1 certified," he explained.  "I've been a full firefighter with my department for a little over a year now."

The entire first floor and the dining room were completely filled with smoke

Hasenkopf, a freshman, said he hasn't yet been in any terribly dangerous situations. His closest experience to danger so far happened when he helped with a basement fire at the Prestige Diner in March. "It was in a crawl space so there wasn't any way to access it. The entire first floor and the dining room were completely filled with smoke. We had to cut holes in the floor," he said. On the other end of the firefighting spectrum, "I've literally gone on those calls to get a cat out of a tree. It's a tough call, they claw pretty good!"

One way Hasenkopf stays ready is through physical fitness. He was a high-level swimmer as a child. Unable to pursue the sport in college due to an old injury, he instead focused on — not surprising at all — helping others. "When we entered the lockdown last spring, I used the extra time to earn my personal training certification," he said.

Perhaps the rush of firefighting and exercise inspires Hasenkopf to do something relaxing with his spare time. His latest passion is designing furniture, which he started after taking four years of woodshop in high school. Now he hopes to learn more while studying at Hillier College of Architecture and Design. "I've mostly just done furniture as far as design. My portfolio projects were a table, jewelry box and lamp which I designed and built myself," he said. 

NJIT was Hasenkopf's goal all along. He didn't even apply to any other colleges. Now, as a student in Albert Dorman Honors College, he is required to do community service. He said that if he's able to dorm here when the pandemic ends, then he would like to fulfill part of the requirements in the only way he knows how — by joining the local Newark fire department.