(Tampa, Fla.) –
Hillsborough Community College (HCC) Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Program held its summer paramedic graduation ceremony on Aug. 11 at the Dale Mabry Campus. Nearly 50 graduating paramedic students were in attendance.
In attendance were command staff and front-line personnel from community and neighboring Fire Rescue and EMS agencies including Section Chief Norman Brown, Hillsborough County Fire Rescue (HCFR) and the Honor Guard.
Guest speakers included:
- Dr. Leif Penrose, Dean of Health Sciences
- Dr. Paige Niehaus, Dale Mabry Campus President
- Dr. Charlie Sand, HCC EMS Program Medical Director
- Chief Todd Carnell, Rescue Division, HCFR
- Professor Larry Linder, HCC EMS Program
- Jeff Hill, HCC EMS Program Adjunct Faculty
The student speakers were Sam Sweet, Adrian Martinez and Abel Leon.
Dr. Sand and Jeff Hill reminded the graduates that service and providing optimal patient care to all is our goal as prehospital clinicians. To paraphrase Jeff Hill’s speech to the graduates, “Remember who you are and why you are here.”
Graduates’ next task is to take the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) Paramedic Cognitive exam required to become licensed paramedics in the state of Florida.
When the ceremony closed, Glenn Davis, Associate Dean of EMS offered this reminder to all our graduates.
“Remember, be an advocate for your patient and an ambassador for your profession.”
The next paramedic graduation will be held in December 2023. Each opening ceremony will have an honor guard from the area agencies represented.
For more information about the HCC EMS Program please visit hccfl.edu/healthsciences.
Hillsborough Community College serves more than 43,000 students annually at its five campuses located throughout Tampa Bay. For more information, visit hccfl.edu.
Hillsborough Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on
Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate and baccalaureate degrees. Degree-granting institutions also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of Hillsborough Community College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling 404.679.4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website
(www.sacscoc.org). Visit hccfl.edu/accreditation for more information.