Motlow State Community College recently held a commencement ceremony for the 2023 class of Paramedics. Students from the Smyrna and Sparta locations walked the stage to receive plaques commemorating their achievement. This is the first group of Paramedic graduates from the Sparta site.

A total of 25 students walked the stage at the Smyrna campus to complete the Paramedic program. Motlow EMS Director Houston Austin and Paramedic Coordinator Michael Peveto spearheaded the event, presenting the students with their plaques of course completion. Metro Nashville Fire Department Captain Brian Felts, the keynote speaker for the event, gave the students a message about the hard lessons learned in the EMS and Fire Service.

Austin stated, “These students have worked hard to reach this point and have earned their places in the medical field. We are very proud of all their hard work and dedication to serving others.” 

Peveto added, “Do or do not. There is no try. These students did everything asked of them, and we look forward to seeing their successes.”

To become a Paramedic, students must complete their Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and Advanced EMT certifications. These certifications total over 1,000 hours of training in advanced medical treatment, such as administering medication, monitoring electrocardiograms, inserting IVs, and transferring patients from the ambulance to the emergency room.