Paramedic Pinning Held May 20

Emilie Jenson, Public Information Office
5/21/2024

Iowa Central Community College held its pinning ceremony for Paramedic/Emergency Medical Services graduates on Monday evening, May 20, in the Triton Café on the Iowa Central campus.

Nick Jordan, 2024 graduate and Luke Winkelman, alumni speaker, addressed the class before each received their paramedic pin.

Winkelman encouraged the graduates to keep educating themselves as they begin their careers in the ever-changing world of emergency services.

“EMS providers are becoming a valuable and sought after resource. Know your worth and prove your worth,” said Winkelman. “In 20 years, I encourage you to be seasoned 20-year providers. Never stop learning. Never stop asking questions. Own the moments you’re wrong and move forward with what you’ve learned.”

Winkelman added that the knowledge that has been bestowed upon the graduates is a gift that they should also give to the next generation of providers.

“Throughout your educational journey, you’ve had the privilege of learning from many sources of wisdom,” he said. “Your instructors, preceptors and physicians have chosen you to receive their knowledge and experiences. This is a tremendous gift. And just as this gift was given generously to you, you now have a duty to share it freely with the next generation of providers who will study under you.”

The class of 2024 spent a minimum of eight hours a day in class and 11 hours per week in clinical settings. The graduates spent a combined 3,775 hours in clinical, field and capstone shifts assessing 195 pediatric, 614 adult and 195 trauma patients.

Clinical and field sites were held at 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.

Graduates from the class of 2024 and their hometowns are: Christina Bauer, Stratford; Stephan Cook, Fort Dodge; Mandy Cox, Paton; Cody Frazier, Stratford; Nick Jordan, Fort Dodge and Justin Schulte, Wall Lake.