Students in Bainbridge College’s third graduating class of the Paramedic Program marked a milestone by earning a 100% first-time pass rate on the National Registry exam.

The national average for the first-time pass rate on the exam is 79%.

“These graduates worked extremely hard, and I'm very proud of them,” said Paramedic Program Instructor Randy Williams, who coordinates BC’s Emergency Medical Services programs of study and who learned the good news Dec. 13.

The students received their paramedic certificates in a ceremony Dec. 12 at the Charles H. Kirbo Regional Center on the Bainbridge College campus. Honorees are Jeannie Asules of Iron City; Kristen Drexler of Bainbridge; George Taylor Floyd of Ashford, AL; Cindy Harrell of Bainbridge; Blaine Lewis of Climax; Josh Martin of Whigham, and Donna Rhodes of Brinson.

President Richard Carvajal spoke after the welcome given by Technical Studies Division Chair Dr. Adria Belk, who serves as interim chair of the Health Sciences Division. Dr. Belk also presented the class for graduation and gave the closing remarks.

Paramedic graduate Kristen Drexler, who gave a motivational keynote address earlier this semester for individuals honored for earning Technical Certificates of Credit, was the featured speaker for the class. Program Coordinator Williams read the students’ comments.

Also assisting with the program were faculty Mary Grimes and librarian Martha Mitchell, who made a special presentation, and Angela Knight, who played the piano for the procession.

PHOTO CUTLINE:
Bainbridge College paramedic students get hands-on training with professionals from AirHeart, who flew from Quincy, FL, to the campus for the drill and to help test the students’ knowledge and skills. Students who graduated from the program Dec. 12 and are seen here loading the mannequin “accident victim” are (from left) Cindy Harrell of Bainbridge and George Taylor Floyd of Ashford, AL.

PHOTO CUTLINE:
MARKING A MILESTONE WITH A 100% PASS RATE are the Dec. 12 graduates of Bainbridge College Paramedic Program. This third cohort of students earned a 100% first-time pass rate on the National Registry exam. The national average for the eams’s first-time pass rate is 79%, said Paramedic Program Instructor Randy Williams, who learned the good news Dec. 13. “These graduates worked extremely hard, and I'm very proud of them,” said Williams, who is seen here at far left with graduates: Donna Rhodes of Brinson, Joshua Martin of Whigham, Kirsten Drexler of Bainbirdge, Blaine Lewis of Climax, Jeannie Asules of Iron City, George Taylor Floyd of Ashford, AL, and Cindy Harrell of Bainbridge.