WNC News and Notes: Western Salutes 11 Graduates of Paramedicine Program

Western Nevada College Paramedicine Program Coordinator Terry Mendez, left, congratulates Joshua Adams during a graduation ceremony for the first cohort of the paramedic program Feb. 20 in Carson City.

By Western Nevada College

Sunday, March 7, 2021

Share this: Email | Facebook | X

They are inspirational and essential to critical health care in Northern Nevada. As first responders, they will perform life-saving tasks in extremely stressful circumstances.

Yes, the 11 graduates of graduates of Western Nevada College’s new Paramedicine program are to be commended on their career choice, as well as the many lives that they will touch in the years to come.

WNC celebrated the first graduates of its Paramedicine program on Feb. 20 in Carson Nugget Hall on the Carson City campus.

Graduates included Joshua Adams, Anthony Abuan, Josef Almeida, Melissa Fraguela, Megan Jackson, Heather Midkiff-Alexander, Sarah Minkle, Connor Nicholas, Kraig Palmer, Jerry Sanchez and Paul White.

Adams talked about what it meant to complete the paramedic program, which WNC implemented in 2020 to expand on its Emergency Medical Services technician courses.

“This has been a huge achievement and a tremendous amount of work this past year,” Adams said. “I've learned so many lessons throughout this program and process: lessons in life, education and plenty of professional lessons. It has been a humbling process that I am thankful for, showing me that we can always improve, learn and grow.”

By finishing the Paramedicine program at Western, the graduates are eligible to sit for the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technician (NREMT) National Certification Test.

“They have completed almost 600 hours of didactic and lab coursework, over 200 hours of hospital clinical time and almost 500 hours of field internship time, and this class completed this during the largest pandemic since 1918!” said Paramedicine Program Coordinator Terry Mendez.

U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen sent their congratulations to the graduates in a ceremony that was limited to the number of attendees because of COVID restrictions.
Mendez said that potential candidates of the program can learn more by contacting him at terry.mendez@wnc.edu or 775-445-3231 and Student Services at counseling@wnc.edu or 775-445-3267. Scholarships are also available to students through WNC Foundation.

Courtesy WNC
Graduate Jerry Sanchez watches a video presentation during a commencement ceremony for the Western Nevada College Paramedicine Program on Feb. 20.

Late-Start Classes Coming in March and April
Better late than never!
Western Nevada College has you covered if you didn’t register in time for regular spring semester classes.
Just because you missed the start of spring semester in January doesn’t mean you can’t take classes in March and April. Short-term and accelerated classes will begin, for the most part, in late March, accommodating an individual’s busy work and family schedules. However, there are some in-person classes available.
The range of late-start online offerings includes English, biology, aviation, advanced industrial technology, chemistry, political science, deaf studies, early childhood education and computer information technology classes, and more.
For a full list of classes and course descriptions, go to wnc.edu/class-schedule/?sorter=short. To learn more about becoming a student at WNC, go to wnc.edu/starthere.
Most of the late-start classes offered this spring begin on March 29 and end on May 22:
• Composition II (ENG 102): Starts March 29
• Changing Environments (MGT 462): Starts March 29
• Nevada Constitution (PSC 100): Starts March 29
• American Sign Language I (AM 145) and IV (AM 148): Starts March 29
• Instrument Ground School (AV 210): Starts March 29
• Fundamentals of Applied Industrial Technology (AIT 101): Starts March 29
• Applied Industrial Technology Hands-On Lab (AIT 155): Starts March 29 Note: AIT 101 is a prerequisite or co-requisite class
• Applied Industrial Technology Projects (AIT 200): Starts March 29
• Applied Industrial Technology: Mechatronics: Pneumatic & Hydraulics (AIT 252), March 31-April 21 in Reynolds Center 107 on Carson campus
• Applied Industrial Technology: Mechatronics: PLCs (AIT 252), April 28-May 19 in Reynolds Center 107 on Carson campus
• Auto Transmission & Transaxles I (AUTO 210): April 26-May 20 in E.L. Cord Automotive Technology Center
• Blueprint Reading for Industry (DFT 110): April 20-May 3 in Andy Butti Welding Tech Center 103 on Carson campus
• Human Anatomy & Physiology II (BIOL 224): Starts March 30
• General Chemistry II (CHEM 122): Starts March 29
• Introduction to IT Project Management (CIT 263): Starts March 29
• Career Choices and Changes (CPD 123): Starts March 29
• Principles of Child Guidance (ECE 204): Starts March 29
• Life Span Human Development (HDFS 201): Starts March 29
• Welding Projects (WELD 224): April 20-May 10 or May 3-10 in Andy Butti Welding Tech Center 100
• Welding Certification Prep (WELD 250): March 16-April 20 in Andy Butti Welding Tech Center 103X

The first graduating class of the Western Nevada College Paramedicine Program pose for photos following a ceremony on Feb. 20 in Carson City. Back row, from left, are Joshua Adams, Kraig Palmer, Anthony Abuan, Paul White, Jerry Sanchez and front row, from left, are WNC Paramedicine Program Coordinator Terry Mendez, Josef Almeida, Melissa Fraguela, Megan Jackson, Sarah Minkle and Heather Midkiff-Alexander. Not pictured is Connor Nicholas.

50-Year Anniversary Spotlight: The curriculum back in 1971
When Western Nevada Community College (now Western Nevada College) officially opened its doors on Sept. 19, 1971, college classes were scattered from Carson City to Stead, serving students in leased facilities since a campus location hadn’t yet been established. But more than 700 students were willing to make the sacrifices to start their higher education in the newly created community college system that also included institutions in Elko and Clark County.
WNCC Founding President Jack C. Davis was tasked with many duties that first year, but foremost, he wanted to make sure that students were getting their money’s worth.
“At the very beginning we had put our focus on teaching,” Dr. Davis said. “That's the trademark of a community college. We hired good people at WNCC. We hired people with experience, with good backgrounds, and, in some cases, we recruited real scholars. I had foreseen the criticism coming and I insisted we hire the best available.”
What were students studying back then? The Community College Division of the University System decided that WNCC would offer occupational programs in business, public service and health. Students could focus on business programs such as bookkeeping, accounting, retailing, marketing and secretarial. For those who were interested in health occupations, WNCC offered nursing and radiology programs. Public service programs were also an important part of what the college offered back then, including hotel management, culinary arts, fire science, law enforcement and teacher aide.
By its second year in 1972, enrollment had swelled to 2,106 students.
Note: WNC is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
April 1 Foundation Scholarship Deadline Nearing
The deadline for students to apply for scholarships through Western Nevada College Foundation is less than a month away.
More than $600,000 in scholarship funding is available for the 2021-22 academic year because of the generosity of donors and the Foundation’s various fundraising efforts. Students will be considered for several hundred scholarships with one, easy application as long it is completed by April 1.
The WNC Foundation 2021-22 scholarship application is available online at wnc.edu/scholarships.
WNC Foundation provides academic scholarships in partnership with WNC employees, community members, corporations and private foundations. All students are encouraged to apply.
To qualify for a foundation scholarship, students need to enroll in a minimum of six units and have earned a minimum grade point average of 2.0. Many scholarships do not require a financial need and are awarded based on factors such as community service, military service, academic achievement and career plans. For this reason, all students are encouraged to apply regardless of financial need or past academic performance.
For more information on applying for a scholarship or to start your own scholarship, contact the WNC Foundation at 775-445-3240.

Wildcat Reserve Serving Students and Their Families
Western Nevada College is committed to fighting student hunger and food insecurity by offering a variety of non-perishable food and hygiene items through its new Wildcat Reserve.
The college’s food and hygiene pantry is in its fourth month of operation and is available to students, regardless of income.
“At WNC, the safety and well-being of our students, faculty and staff is top priority,” WNC Student Life Coordinator Heather Rikalo said. “To keep everyone safe, the ordering process during the spring 2021 semester will be done hands free.”
Students are required to complete intake and ordering forms before they can pick up any food and/or hygiene items. Orders are filled on Wednesdays and picked up on Thursdays outside of the Student Center entrance.
Donations from NV Energy, Visiting Angels and University Police Services helped Student Life prepare and stock the pantry to serve students. However, nonperishable food donations and hygiene items are still being accepted, as well as monetary donations.
If you’d like to make a donation, phone Student Life at 775-445-3218.

WNC News and Notes: Western Salutes 11 Graduates of Paramedicine Program

More like this story

Nevada Appeal on Facebook