Crafton Hills College welcomes 40 new Emergency Medical Technicians to the ‘family’

Publish Date: Jan. 9, 2026

Graduating from an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) program is not the finish line but the starting point for making a difference in the community. And Crafton Hills College’s most recent crop of EMT graduates is ready for the challenge.

During a late afternoon ceremony on Jan. 9, students who completed their EMT training were recognized for their accomplishments in front of a crowd of excited family and friends in Crafton’s Finkelstein Performing Arts Center.

The ceremony was the second of three planned for CHC’s EMT program, an 11 ½ unit series of courses teaching future EMTs how to perform basic life-saving support measures in a pre-hospital setting. In addition to on-campus learning, the college offers an off-site instruction course at the Del Rosa Station in neighboring San Bernardino to reach more students.  Graduates from this site were joined by graduates from another cohort of students from Crafton’s on-campus Friday class.

“I am so proud of each and every one of you,” said Glen Thronson, who led the Friday cohort. “And let me be the first to welcome you to the EMT family.”

As with previous EMT cohorts, Crafton’s newest crop of graduates came from diverse communities and backgrounds. Some began the program after years of not being in a classroom setting; others entered straight out of high school. Some had parental obligations; others worked full-time jobs while juggling coursework and late-night study sessions.

Despite the challenges these students faced, program facilitators encouraged each graduate to keep moving forward, even during the hard times and the unexpected.

Emergency Medical Services assistant dean Amanda Ward, recalling her own struggles as a student, related that she understands the negativity EMT students must overcome. 

“I had so many people tell me [when I started] I was so wrong, the wrong gender and ‘You’re not going to make it’ because ‘You don’t have enough life experience.’ And yet, we still have generations of folks proving them wrong,” she said. “These are needed folks, and I am so proud of you for answering the call and wanting to go out and serve your communities.”

Crafton’s EMT program takes applications year-round. To view program requirements or to learn more, go to www.craftonhills.edu or contact Ward by email at award@craftonhills.edu.