A celebration of success for seven graduates of Cowley College’s 2020 paramedic program was held Tuesday, January 5 in the Earle N. Wright Community Room at the main campus in Arkansas City. The following are the graduating members of the class: Daniel Alderson, Mark Bush, Brydgett Pitzer, Derrick Yoder, Cathryn Burton, Loren Farley, and Haley Watts.

The evening began when Chris Cannon, EMS program director, issued the welcome and discussed the education the graduates received while in Cowley’s program. Cannon thanked the graduates for their extensive work during the program, and applauded their grit for completing the program requirements during the COVID 19 pandemic.

The featured speaker was Hunter Woodhall. Hunter made his international debut in 2015 with a silver and bronze medal at the 2015 IPC Athletics World Championships, and later won a bronze and silver medal at the 2016 Summer Paralympics. After graduating from high school, he became the first double amputee to earn an NCAA Division I scholarship. He was nominated for NCAA Game Changer of the Year and named a First-Team All-America in the 4x400 Relay and Distance Medley Relay.

Dr. Dennis Rittle, Cowley College President, was then joined by paramedic instructor coordinator Cameron Schwarz and Chris Cannon in conferring the certificates to the graduates.

The trio then presented the honor awards for the class. Haley Watts was the program honor graduate (highest GPA), Cathryn Burton was the Lyle E. Eckhart award winner and Derrick Yoder was the Patrick J. McAtee award recipient. Family members, friends and mentors of the graduates then presented each graduate with a Cowley College EMS Education challenge coin.

Dr. Rittle then presented the class of 2020 to the gathering of family and friends who came to honor the graduates.

The national job outlook for paramedics continues to be much higher than average, and the local job outlook remains extremely positive.

Cowley currently has paramedic program cohorts located in Winfield and Mulvane that start each January and August. Visit www.cowley.edu/ paramedic for more information.