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New first responders ready to save lives, fight fires

EMS graduates and instructors are, front row, from left, Virginia Purdy (lead paramedic instructor), Brandy Weatherly, Hannah E. Treglia, Marissa L. Livingston, Haley M. Hrabar, Veronica M. Hanks and Priscila L. Casas; back row, from left, Jeffrey W. Corn, Kanan Banks, Matthew T. Schultz, Casey Elliott, EMS clinical coordinator; and Daniel Wesley, EMS program director.

By Lightning Reports, Published: December 16, 2024

Twenty fresh graduates of public safety training programs at Blue Ridge Community College are ready to help the hurt, save lives and protect property after finishing fire and paramedic training.

BRCC hosted a combined  graduation ceremony on Dec. 10 to honor students who completed the August 2023 to December 2024 paramedic training and the July 2024 to December 2024 Firefighter Academy.

“In the aftermath of the hurricane, our nation witnessed the importance of Western North Carolina’s first responders in real-time,” BRCC President Laura Leatherwood said. “Across our community and region, Blue Ridge alumni and faculty were among the heroes who answered the call, providing life-saving care and extraordinary leadership during search and rescue efforts.”

Paramedic graduates were Kanan Banks, Priscila L. Casas, Jeffrey W. Corn, Christopher T. Dotson, Veronica M. Hanks, Haley M. Hrabar,  Marissa L. Livingston, Matthew T. Schultz, Hannah E. Treglia and Brandy Weatherly, class representative.

Firefighter Academy graduates were Jeremiah Callahan, Grant M. Faulkner, Christian T. Hansen, Jonah Jakubielski, Justin Q. Laughter, William Pettit, class representative and Juan P. Rodriguez.

Pictured, from left, fire instructor Michael Ostrander, fire training academy graduates Christian T. Hansen, Justin Q. Laughter, Jeremiah Callahan and Jonah Jakubielski and instructor Frankie Laughter.