BLINN PARAMEDIC PROGRAM RECOGNIZED 19 GRADUATES
Real-world scenarios prepare students to serve the community and save lives
The Blinn College District Paramedic Program welcomed 19 new graduates to the profession Saturday, Aug. 3, during a pinning ceremony held on the Blinn-Bryan Campus.
Each graduate completed 45 credit hours to earn their paramedic technology certificate or Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Associate in Applied Science degree, which qualifies them for entry-level paramedic positions and can be applied toward a bachelor’s degree.
Blinn’s Paramedic Program courses include basic and clinical emergency medical technician, emergency pharmacology, clinical emergency medical services, trauma management, cardiology, medical emergencies, and EMS operations. Students also must complete the Paramedic Academy, a three-semester program that prepares students for certification or licensure by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) and the Texas Department of State Health Services.
“These graduates are prepared to tackle emergency situations and save lives,” said Zack Varner, Program Director. “In addition to the hands-on training Blinn students receive in our high-fidelity simulation lab, they work alongside a team of highly experienced professionals. Our graduates complete the program with the abilities needed to safeguard the communities they serve.”
Members of this year’s graduating class include: Matthew N. Abbott (Canyon), Tanner L. Aebersold (Savannah, Mo.), Bodhi L. Brown (Blue Eye, Mo.), Ben C. Collie (Austin), Miranda C. Cordts (San Antonio), Auston F. Douglas (College Station), Joshua J. Iselt (Thorndale), Kaitlin T. Kucera (Victoria), Tommy C. Longoria (Victoria), Tiffany J. Miller (Mansfield), Ryan H. Miller (Quinlan), Dillon R. Murphy (Bryan), Kyle W. Parrish (Georgetown), Katrina L. Rader (Cheyenne, Wyo.), Brianna Rojas (Lewisville), Nicole M. Stange (Houston), Baldemar Villarreal (Marble Falls), Makayla L. Wawarofsky (Hempstead), and Conner N. Zeller (La Grange).
Students who complete the program have numerous employment opportunities and options to continue their education. Class valedictorian and Blinn EMS Student Association President Tanner Aebersold plans to attend the TEEX Fire Academy in Fall 2019 as part of Blinn’s Fire Science degree path.
“The amount of time, effort, and enthusiasm that Blinn faculty and staff put into their students is what allows everyone to excel,” said Aebersold. “The facilities and equipment incorporated into the learning process are top-notch and have provided me the skill set to better serve my community.”
Paramedics are highly recruited in the region, with employment projected to grow 26.1% between 2014 and 2024, according to Workforce Solutions Brazos Valley. In 2018, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the median pay for paramedics at $34,320 per year, or $16.50 per hour. Graduates who pass their certification and licensure exams are eligible to work in the ambulance service industry, local governments, outpatient care centers, and hospitals.
Blinn’s Paramedic Program is part of the Emergency Medical Services Program, which offers emergency medical technician and paramedic training. For more information, visit www.blinn.edu/emergency-medical-services.
(COURTESY: Richard Bray, Blinn Information)