Walters State Community College recognized its 31st paramedic class with a graduation ceremony on Aug. 8. Fourteen graduates are now working as paramedics in Greene, Hamblen, Jefferson and Sevier counties.
“You have made a commitment to do more to help others,” speaker Jason Fox, state training coordinator for Amerimed EMS, said. “Your journey does not and must not end today. I encourage you to never stop striving to do more.”
Students enter the program as advanced emergency medical technicians and spend a year in both classroom and clinical training.
Steve Helton, a paramedic with the Jefferson County EMS, received the Preceptor of the Year award. Preceptors train students during clinical rotations.
Graduates and their agencies are:
Jefferson County EMS: Sarah M. Brooks, Eric Brown, Katie Nicole Kennedy, Karen Phillips Lee, Lexie R. Wilder and Ashley R. Wooliver. Carter received the Clinical Excellence Award. Lee received the Douglas Allen Johnston Memorial Award of Excellence. Woolover received the Academic Excellence Award.
Morristown-Hamblen EMS: Geoff Alford, Kerrie Ann Miller and Azlynn M. Ross.
Sevier County Ambulance Service: Casey J. Byrd, Katie Nicole Kennedy and John B. McCreary.
The 32nd paramedic class will begin training on Aug. 26. Applications for the 33rd class will be accepted beginning in January 2025. For more information, visit https://ws.edu/academics/programs/tc/public-safety-paramedic.aspx.