McDowell Technical Community College 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 McDowell County and throughout the region.

McDowell Tech President Dr. J.W. Kelley praised the graduates for choosing a profession defined by responsibility, courage, and care. “Emergency Medical Services professionals are often the first face of hope someone sees on the worst day of their life,” Kelley said. “These 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. McDowell Tech is proud to send these graduates into the field, ready to serve our communities.”

The program featured heartfelt remarks from Chip Cross, who spoke candidly about his family’s 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.

 

Students listening to speakers
Student receives certificate

Guest speaker Mitchell Ledford of McDowell County EMS continued that theme by introducing Tim McAnally, a McDowell County resident who survived a life-threatening heart attack last year. McAnally recounted how EMS personnel revived him multiple times, crediting their heroic efforts—and his faith—for 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, “to be a better husband, a better father, and a better person.” 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.

Chip Cross at podium
Mitchell Ledford at podium

The Emergency Medical Services programs at McDowell Technical Community College 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 https://mcdowelltech.edu/wdpublicsafety .

Emergency Medical Services Graduates

(December 2025)

Paramedic Graduates

·         Jared Barns

·         Katelynn Beane-Hall

·         Ryan Chloe Cable

·         Toby Grant

·         James Zach Horne

·         Isabella Lunsford

·         Talma Parker

·         Darla Reece

EMT Day Class Graduates

·         Savannah Burnette

·         Eliasa Cedeno

·         Elijah Edwards

·         Sandra Magana

·         Emma Owenby

·         Joshua Wilson

EMT Night Graduates

·         Deanna Allen

·         Jacob Bartlett

·         Alex Carland

·         Kelsey Fisher

·         Victoria Geurink

·         Kaila Hughes

·         Alice Mosby

·         Christopher Petit

·         Robert F. Smith

·         Derek Snydey

·         Kelley Solesby

·         William Austin Stevens

·         Samantha Aimee Suarez

·         Alex Tipton

·         Hannah Wilson