ΒιΆΉΉΩΝψ honored the commitment, compassion, and life-saving skills of its Emergency Medical Services graduates during a graduation ceremony held in December, recognizing students who completed Paramedic and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) programs during the fall semester. These graduates will soon enter the workforce in ΒιΆΉΉΩΝψ County and throughout the region.
ΒιΆΉΉΩΝψ Tech President Dr. J.W. Kelley praised the graduates for choosing a profession defined by responsibility, courage, and care. βEmergency Medical Services professionals are often the first face of hope someone sees on the worst day of their life,β Kelley said. βThese graduates have committed themselves to learning skills that save lives, but just as importantly, to showing up with compassion, professionalism, and calm when it matters most. ΒιΆΉΉΩΝψ Tech is proud to send these graduates into the field, ready to serve our communities.β
The program featured heartfelt remarks from Chip Cross, who spoke candidly about his familyβs personal experience with emergency responders. Cross shared how a family member overdosed several years ago and was close to losing their life before being saved by paramedics, EMTs, and dispatchers who responded swiftly and decisively.
His comments underscored the real-world impact of EMS professionals and the lasting gratitude families feel toward those who answer emergency calls with skill and humanity.
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Guest speaker Mitchell Ledford of ΒιΆΉΉΩΝψ County EMS continued that theme by introducing Tim McAnally, a ΒιΆΉΉΩΝψ County resident who survived a life-threatening heart attack last year. McAnally recounted how EMS personnel revived him multiple times, crediting their heroic effortsβand his faithβfor giving him another chance at life.
Speaking with emotion and gratitude, McAnally told graduates that because of EMS professionals, he was given the opportunity, as he put it, βto be a better husband, a better father, and a better person.β His testimony offered a powerful reminder of the difference EMS professionals make beyond the immediate emergency, touching families and futures alike.
Throughout the evening, graduates were recognized for completing rigorous academic and clinical requirements, while often balancing work, family responsibilities, and demanding schedules. Faculty and program leaders emphasized that EMS education is as much about character and judgment as it is about technical skill.
The Emergency Medical Services programs at ΒιΆΉΉΩΝψ prepare students for service in ambulance services, hospitals, and other emergency response settings across Western North Carolina. Graduates leave the program equipped to meet certification requirements and to serve their communities with professionalism and care.
Our next EMT class begins on January 6th. To register or learn more, visit .
Emergency Medical Services Graduates
(December 2025)
Paramedic Graduates
Β·ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Jared Barns
Β·ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Katelynn Beane-Hall
Β·ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Ryan Chloe Cable
Β·ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Toby Grant
Β·ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ James Zach Horne
Β·ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Isabella Lunsford
Β·ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Talma Parker
Β·ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Darla Reece
EMT Day Class Graduates
Β·ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Savannah Burnette
Β·ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Eliasa Cedeno
Β·ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Elijah Edwards
Β·ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Sandra Magana
Β·ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Emma Owenby
Β·ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Joshua Wilson
EMT Night Graduates
Β·ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Deanna Allen
Β·ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Jacob Bartlett
Β·ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Alex Carland
Β·ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Kelsey Fisher
Β·ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Victoria Geurink
Β·ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Kaila Hughes
Β·ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Alice Mosby
Β·ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Christopher Petit
Β·ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Robert F. Smith
Β·ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Derek Snydey
Β·ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Kelley Solesby
Β·ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ William Austin Stevens
Β·ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Samantha Aimee Suarez
Β·ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Alex Tipton
Β·ΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύΜύ Hannah Wilson
