Iowa Central Sends Eight New Paramedics Into the Field After Completion of Pilot Accelerated Program

Emily Denholm, Public Information Office
9/9/2025

Iowa Central Community College honored eight students during a special Paramedic Pinning Ceremony, recognizing the completion of the College’s accelerated one-year paramedic program. The celebration brought together family, friends, instructors, and coworkers to commend the graduates for their resilience and dedication.

In opening remarks, program coordinator Peter Amstalden welcomed attendees and expressed deep pride in the accomplishments of the class. Students balanced demanding coursework with more than 600 hours of clinical and field experience, a feat made even more impressive by the compressed timeline of the accelerated program. Gratitude was also extended to the families and friends who supported the graduates throughout their training.

Student speaker Sawyer Springer reflected on the past year with humor and gratitude. He shared stories from clinicals—joking that he used the word “clinical” more in the past year than “football”—while thanking classmates, instructors, coworkers, and loved ones for their support through the challenges of the program.

Instructor Cindy Dorn highlighted the remarkable growth she witnessed in each student. “Every graduate has shown a compassion for others that is unable to be taught in a classroom,” Dorn said. She encouraged families to continue standing beside the graduates as they enter the workforce, “giving them just as much love and compassion that they show their patients, as this will help them through the difficult times and make them better providers.”

Each graduate received their paramedic pin, symbolizing their transition from student to professional and their readiness to serve communities in times of need.

The ceremony not only celebrated the individual accomplishments of the graduates but also marked a milestone for Iowa Central’s EMS program, as the College continues to adapt and expand training opportunities for future healthcare providers.

Congratulations graduates:

• Taryn Sutton
• Connor Hanson
• Angela Boge
• Tia Woeste
• Joey Sherman
• Sawyer Springer
• Max Stoaks
• Valerie Thompson

Each graduate received their paramedic pin, symbolizing their transition from student to professional and their readiness to serve communities in times of need.

The accelerated program was offered as a pilot this year, and Iowa Central hopes to provide the option again in the future.

The ceremony not only celebrated the accomplishments of the graduates but also underscored Iowa Central’s commitment to preparing compassionate, highly skilled EMS professionals for the communities they will serve.