Paramedic Graduates Honored With Ceremony

Edison State Community College honored 14 recent paramedic graduates with a celebration on December 15, 2025, held at the Piqua Campus.

“It’s an honor to stand before you today as we celebrate a remarkable group of individuals graduating from the Edison State Paramedic program,” said Edison State Dean of Health Sciences Jill Bobb. “Today, we celebrate not just your accomplishment, but your potential, your future. Patients don’t know your names yet, but someday, they’ll never forget you. You’ve earned your place in this noble profession. Stand tall, be proud, and go forward with confidence. Your community is ready for you and grateful. Thank you, and congratulations to each of you.”

Edison State EMS instructors Greg Brand and Eric Henry also congratulated the graduates.

“The journey wasn’t just about mastering skills or passing tests. It was about the moments in between. It was about the laughter we shared, the frustrations we worked through, and yes, even some tears that fell,” Brand said. “Most importantly, you’re the ones that put in the sleepless nights, who stayed up studying for tests, who gave it everything you had. Congratulations.”

Henry added, “I’ve seen your hard work and watched you progress through the Paramedic program, and to see that journey has truly been amazing for me as an instructor. I know the commitment and sacrifices you have made. I’m super proud of all of you. I have no doubt that you’re going to have extremely successful careers. Stay safe and never stop learning. You’re going to be fantastic.”

Additionally, class representative Ava Loudy provided remarks.

“I just want to say thank you to our friends and family—thank you for your support, encouragement, and understanding throughout this journey.” To her classmates, she said, “Tonight isn’t just about graduating. It’s about proving to ourselves that we didn’t quit. Some days it felt like we would never reach this day, but it snuck up on us. No matter where this career takes us, we will always have the moments we shared. Good luck to all of you.”

Program director Kris Alexander told graduates, “The biggest piece of advice I can tell you is that nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care. Caring for others is the life that you’ve chosen at this point.”

He added, “I would like to thank all the officers, firefighters, and EMTs for supporting these individuals, and anyone who may have mentored them as well. They had a huge impact. To the parents, family, spouses, friends, and those who encouraged them as they went through this yearlong process: I’m sure many of you were there to support them when they came home feeling overwhelmed, and I can honestly say that without your support, they wouldn’t be on this stage tonight. Students: thank you for your hard work and dedication. Congratulations on completing this program here at Edison State.”

By the night of graduation, seven of the 14 graduates had already passed their national registry certification exam to work as registered paramedics.

Offered exclusively through Edison State at Troy, the Paramedic program provides students with the training and skills required of first responders. To best serve and support community members in crisis, students learn about a wide range of possible critical scenarios, various medical issues, assessments, and treatment options. Topics they review and assess include physical anatomy, respiratory management, safety, medications, injury prevention, stabilization, and reporting.

Paramedics function as part of a comprehensive emergency medical service response and perform interventions with the basic and advanced equipment typically found on an ambulance or fire/rescue vehicle. The paramedic is a vital link from the scene into the health care system.

For more information about the program, visit www.edisonohio.edu/health.