12 teens graduate as EMS cadets

06/25/2007

William Kaempffer , Register Staff

NEW HAVEN — As thousands of high school seniors around Greater New Haven received diplomas and joyously hurled mortar boards, the city fire department held a more intimate graduation for a dozen youths who invested the last half year learning how to save lives. Last week, at the fire training academy auditorium, 12 teens from six city high schools graduated from the EMS Cadet Program, a joint effort by the fire department and Board of Education that trained high school students to be emergency medical technicians.

"You have no idea the importance of this day, the importance of these kids graduating from this program," said Rene Cordova, an assistant drillmaster with the fire department who spent the last seven months teaching the youths CPR and other first aid skills.

It was the ninth year for the program. The 12 now are eligible to take the national registry exam to become licensed EMTs.

The sponsors view the program as a springboard for the students.

For Dominique Douthit, the initials EMT might not hold the same mystique as MD, but it’s a step in that direction.

The 18-year-old Metropolitan Business Academy is planning to study medicine next year at Winston-Salem State University in North Carolina.

"I am extremely proud," said her mother, Lenny Rollins. "She goes to school. She works and she made time on Tuesdays and Thursdays to come here."

The program comprised 221 hours of classes since November. Fire Department EMS Supervisor Abraham Colon hoped some of the students will be inspired to pursue a career in medicine or the fire service. For those who don’t, it’s a taste of a college-level course that will give them a leg up as they further their education.

The value can’t be underestimated, said Charles Williams, the Board of Education director of high schools who shared a story about a past graduate. After high school, she attended Xavier University in New Orleans but, when her money ran out, faced the prospect of leaving college.

"They needed a trainer for the basketball team and the value of having that particular certification enabled her to maintain her status for that year," he said. "If you think there is no value to what you’ve done, that is you stopping yourself."

Prospective students must fill out city applications, write essays, receive letters of recommendation and submit resumes to be considered. A dozen of the 18 students who started last November stuck it out.

"As a parent, there is no better feeling than seeing your child succeed," said Fire Lt. Lou Rivera

The graduates are: Hill Regional Career High School students Kushboo Shah, Laura Jimenez, Stacy Rodriguez and Trusha Patel; Hillhouse student Toddchelle Young; Douthit; New Haven Academy student Fernando Gonzalez; Sound School students Nicholas Shafransky, Liana Torres, and Freddie Rivera and Wilbur Cross students Jordan Stacey and Ishar Nieves.

William Kaempffer can be reached at 789-5727 or wkaempffer@nhregister.com.