Iowa Central Honors Paramedic Class of 2025 in Emotional Pinning Ceremony

Public Information Office
5/23/2025

Iowa Central Community College concluded National EMS Week with a heartfelt Paramedic Pinning Ceremony on Thursday evening, May 22, in the Triton Café. The event honored the hard work, dedication, and resilience of the Class of 2025 while paying tribute to lives lost and careers dedicated to service.

This year’s ceremony carried extra emotional weight as the program remembered Paul Arens, a cherished member of the Iowa Central family who passed unexpectedly in September. His memory was honored with a moment of reflection, underscoring the strength of the students who carried on in their studies through grief and uncertainty.

“This class has shown what true resilience looks like,” said EMS instructor Julie Mertens, who also marked a major milestone in her own journey. After 33 years in EMS and firefighting, Mertens bid farewell to her career, “I’m leaving behind the best career in the world,” she said with emotion. “There need to be more people like you—never stop learning, lean on each other, laugh often, and cry when you need to.”

Graduate speaker Aaron Campbell echoed Mertens’ words, sharing the challenges and triumphs of the program. He recounted long nights of studying, the excitement of completing a first successful IV, and the bonds formed through clinical experiences—one of which led to a personal milestone, meeting his fiancé during clinicals at the hospital.

Each graduate was recognized with the symbolic pinning that marks their transition from student to professional.

• Aaron Campbell, recipient of a Paramedic Certificate, will continue to serve as a firefighter/paramedic with the Fort Dodge Fire Department. He was pinned by his friend and coworker, FF/Paramedic Nick Ruhland.

• Rylie Elliot earned an Associate of Applied Science in Paramedic and will begin her career with Iowa Falls EMS. She was pinned by her parents, Chad and Lisa Elliot, along with her boyfriend, Ian Klein.

• Kaitlyn Household, also receiving an Associate of Applied Science in Paramedic, will work for Kossuth County EMS. She was pinned by her friend, Gage Smith.

• Luke Kloetzer, graduating with a Paramedic Certificate, will continue serving as a firefighter/paramedic with the Fort Dodge Fire Department. His father, Dave Kloetzer, had the honor of pinning him.

• Liby Murray graduated with an Associate of Applied Science in Paramedic and will work with Eldora EMS. She was pinned by her fiancé, Benji Enjabnit.

This evening also marked a new chapter for Iowa Central's EMS program, as Peter Amstalden, new EMS Coordinator shared his remarks with the group. With a forward-thinking vision for the field, Amstalden expressed his hopes for the future of EMS education at Iowa Central. 

“I'm excited to see where the students from our EMS programs go from here,” said Amstalden. “My hope is that we can start to reshape people's thinking and help them see that EMS isn't just a steppingstone—it can be a career. I truly believe that EMS professionals are the best in healthcare, and I think Iowa Central is on the frontline of producing EMS providers that reshape the way healthcare views EMS.”

We extend an additional thank you to our partners in clinical and field sites: Blank Children's Hospital, Des Moines; Buena Vista Regional Medical Center, Storm Lake; Carroll County Ambulance, Carroll; Cherokee Mental Health Institute, Cherokee; Fort Dodge Fire Department, Fort Dodge; Humboldt County Memorial Hospital, Humboldt; Iowa Lutheran Hospital, Des Moines; Iowa Specialty Hospital, Belmond/Clarion; Mary Greeley Medical Center, Ames; Sac County Ambulance, Sac City; Trinity Regional Medical Center, Fort Dodge and Van Diest Medical Center, Webster City.

As National EMS Week came to a close, the pinning ceremony served as a powerful reminder of the bravery, compassion, and perseverance that define emergency medical professionals. Iowa Central is proud to send these graduates into the field—well-trained, deeply compassionate, and ready to make a difference.