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Mount Wachusett Community College celebrated the achievements of Paramedic Class 4 with a traditional pinning ceremony on January 9, 2023, at the college’s Gardner campus. The six members of Class 4 have all passed both the written and practical National Registry of American Medical Technician exams, the first class to do so prior to the pinning ceremony and are officially licensed paramedics.
“Today marks the anniversary of MWCC’s first paramedic class pinning, and there wasn’t a mask to be seen, and yet seven weeks later we found ourselves in a pandemic. With the incredible leadership of our faculty, advisors and partners, we were able to continue to offer this program throughout the pandemic, and our graduates have been successful in completing it,” offered MWCC President James Vander Hooven. “I know it has not been easy and you are entering a profession that will never be easy. You have chosen to go forward and to help others, and I thank you.”
“I would like to thank your staff and faculty for all they have done to make you successful,” added Margaret Jaillet, Dean of Health Professions, Public Service Programs and Social Sciences. “And I would like to thank each of you for choosing the Mount and for choosing to serve our community. As a local resident, I have already benefited from MWCC having a paramedic program.”
“As of tonight, we have officially finished paramedic school, and now we have the challenge of refining the things we have learned and becoming the best paramedics we can possibly be,” Class 4 President Graylen Scarsdale told her fellow graduates. “Thank you to everyone who is here for sharing your loved ones with us, I am so honored to be part of this class. All of you are so capable and compassionate, you are going to be amazing medics.”
Along with family and friends, the graduates were congratulated by Paramedic Program Chair Peter Laitinen, Medical Director Dr. Daniel Wilson, Clinical Coordinator and Professor John Breshnahan, Adjunct Faculty Gary Childs and Timothy Toth, and Lab Assistants Tyler Schwabe and Lorenzo Sordoni.
The six members of Class 4 are Jim Ares of Holden and member of the Hubbardston Fire Department, Melissa Buchanan of Lunenburg and member of the Lunenburg Fire Department, Selena Gonzales of Maynard, Daniel Hall of West Warren and a member of the Palmer Ambulance Service, Graylen Scarsdale of Pepperell and member of the Pepperell Fire Department, and Emily Thibeault of Templeton and member of the Templeton Fire Department.