Newly certified paramedics celebrated at Crafton Hills College graduation ceremony - Crafton Hills College

Publish Date: Aug. 22, 2025

2025-08-22-paramedic-graduation

Crafton Hills College added 21 new paramedics to the first responder workforce after they took that one final step: Graduation.

On Aug. 22, the Yucaipa-based college recognized its 106th paramedic cohort during an hour-long ceremony inside the campus’s new Finkelstein Performing Arts Center, featuring music and words of encouragement.

Friends and family gathered with many shouting out the names of their graduate on stage, including a few youngsters who spotted their “Daddy” from the audience.

Crafton’s paramedic program demands hard work to develop critically important skills, challenging students to think on their feet in response to emergencies. The program consists of three sections: didactic, which includes lectures and skills labs; a field internship—known as the clinic—which requires students to practice and improve their assessment and technical skills; and field work, where each student is paired with a preceptor to help guide them through real-world emergency response calls.

“We are known for being one of the most challenging institutions around, and yet these students choose us, which speaks volumes to who they are and who they are going to be as clinicians out in the field,” said Crafton Interim Associate Dean of Public Safety and Paramedic Program Director Amanda Ward.  “There’s not a single one of you [here today] who had this [achievement] handed to you. All of this came with a ton of grit and commitment to our program, and I hope that you continue to have that grit as you work for the next 25 to 30 years in this profession.”

Program highlights included remarks from guest speaker Darren Wiswell, a paramedic/firefighter with the Hemet Fire Department; Crafton President Kevin Horan; and Instructor Glen Thronson, who kicked off the evening’s festivities. Medical Director Dr. Phong Nguyen brought laughs and rousing applause from program graduates and attendees as he performed his version of Michael Jackson’s 1992 hit “Heal the World,” by changing a few lyrics to reflect the program’s mission to “heal” the Inland Empire by training the next generation of first responders.

Tradition is also a key component of each paramedic program graduation with the unveiling of a class plaque and the awarding of pins that mark program completion. 

Awards were also presented to:

  • Medical Director’s Awards: Michael Hoar and Diana Diaz-Maciel
  • Beaver Medical Clinical Award: Aaron Gonzales
  • Cardiology Award: Benjamin Cowan
  • Pharmacology Award: Austin Bowden
  • Clinical Award: Dylan Guerrero

Kyle Aguilar and Benjamin Quirk took home multiple awards, with Aguilar earning medals in Theory, Skills, and Field, while Quirk received the Patient Assessment and Director’s Awards.

Rounding out this group of graduates were Anthony Bazzo, Anthony Beers, Dezmon Bell, Chris Cole, Jonathan Farmerie, Christopher Flores, Henry Gomez, Daniel Kuo, Max Myman, Kristopher Nijst, Edgar Valencia, Eric Vides, and Trent Young.

To learn more about Crafton and its Paramedic Program, go to www.craftonhills.edu.