Emergency Medical Technology graduates could walk a clear path to the entranceway of a heroic career field after seeing consecutive days of rainy spring weather.
A limited amount of family and friends assembled in the Georgia Lewis Theater of the College’s main campus to celebrate seven guests of honor who recently completed their study in the EMT program.
Rhett Nelson, director of Coahoma's EMT and Paramedic programs, approached the audience, first instructing the graduates to applaud their support systems who were in attendance. He then reflected on his inspiration for entering the Emergency Medical Services field, noting that he's at the start of his 29th year as a paramedic.
“Regardless of how you enter this field, you don’t do it for the thank you’s. We do this because we believe that all of human life is precious,” Nelson underscored.
George Scott Swan, the operations supervisor over the mid-Delta region of Pafford Emergency Medical Services, who has given around 25 years of intermittent service to the field, highlighted the ceremony with a keynote address. Uniquely, Swan outlined the actual EMT job description by focusing on the "office" of an Emergency Medical Technician.
“I firmly believe God gives us all a purpose in life, and for all of us, EMS is ours,” he began. Hoping to serve as motivation, he expressed that he looks forward to the grads reaching the paramedic rank. “Our office, it’s an ambulance. It’s our home away from home,” said Swan, adding that the vehicle is a site where tragedies and miracles happen.
Swan, a resident of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, continued detailing what to expect in the occupation. He described the ambulance as a space with not-so-nice work conditions but also rewarding outcomes.
“It’s the place that can be violent but yet calm; you kind of have to find that happy medium. It’s the place where you will make memories and where you will wish to forget what your eyes have seen. Are you ready to join us by accepting your calling as an EMS provider?” he posed.
“You have a chance to make a difference in people’s lives in each encounter,” Swan enlightened.
At the close of the ceremony, the well-esteemed Mr. Coahoma Community College 2020-2021, Jeremy Brown, of Memphis, Tennessee, received an award for completing the program with the highest average. The Johnny Brister award, the highest honor of the program named for the director’s highly influential paramedic mentor, was presented to DeQuayvious Morris, who went beyond requirements, accumulating 200-plus clinical hours. Gabrielle Cummings of Greenville, Mississippi, was awarded for showing the most improvement. Two of the graduates had also just celebrated their graduation from high school.
Coahoma Community College's Emergency Medical Technology offering is a short-term, certificated program. With Saturday-only classes, students can fulfill curriculum requirements in precisely one semester.
Contact (662) 621-4159 for information on enrolling in the EMT Program.