Cochise Newsroom
New paramedics added to strengthen the emergency response workforce in Cochise County while building a foundation for careers.
Fourteen newly trained paramedics graduated from Cochise College, ready to answer emergencies across Cochise County and pursue careers that can extend far beyond an ambulance.
The ceremony marked the completion of an intensive training program and the beginning for graduates entering one of health care’s most demanding professions.
Becoming a paramedic is sometimes viewed as the final step in an emergency medical services career. In reality, paramedic experience can create opportunities in fire service, emergency management, public safety, hospital care and organizational leadership.
One credential can open several career paths.
Members of the graduating class represented communities and agencies from across Cochise County, including the Bisbee Fire Department, Elfrida Fire District, Fry Fire District, Palominas Fire District, Sierra Vista Fire & Medical Services and Sunsites-Pearce Fire District.
Many of the graduates already work for local fire departments and emergency medical services agencies. Their success reflects the strong partnership between Cochise College and the organizations that deliver emergency care throughout Southern Arizona.
Those relationships help students connect classroom instruction with supervised clinical and field experience. They also give local agencies a pipeline of trained professionals who understand the region and the communities they will serve.
Each graduate completed more than 1,000 hours of preparation, including over 500 hours of classroom instruction and extensive clinical and supervised field training. Students developed the skills needed to assess patients, manage medical emergencies, administer medications and provide lifesaving care before and during transport to a medical facility.
By the time of the ceremony, nine graduates had already passed their certification examinations and earned their paramedic credentials.
Cochise College President James Perey congratulated the graduates and thanked the families, friends, faculty and staff who supported them throughout the program.
“To our graduates, today is a testament to your hard work, your perseverance and your passion for helping others,” Perey said. “Your resilience and determination have brought you to this moment in time, ready to serve as a paramedic.”
The graduates enter the profession at a critical time. The National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians describes the nation’s EMS workforce shortage as a long-term challenge that threatens emergency response systems. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects about 19,000 openings for EMTs and paramedics each year, on average, from 2024 through 2034.
In rural communities, building that workforce locally can make a significant difference. Training residents close to home helps departments recruit professionals who are familiar with the area, invested in their communities and prepared to respond across large service areas.
Paramedic training also provides skills that remain valuable as careers evolve. Some
paramedics work as members of fire district crews. Others move into fire service leadership.
Cochise College offers both a paramedicine certificate and an Associate of Applied Science in Paramedicine. Graduates who want to continue their education may also pursue the college’s 100% online Bachelor of Applied Science in Leadership, Management and Operations, which is designed for students with backgrounds in public safety, military programs and professional studies.
Members of the 2026 graduating class are:
Alycia Babich
Bonnie Blood
Corrine Ferguson (Valedictorian)
James Gordon
Brigitte Mureilli
Nathan Novoa
Jamie Rutger
Beatrice Smith
Hassan Sowid
Mark Tenniswood
Uriel Urquijo
Walter Webb
Phillip Weschler
Laura Wilkerson Klein
To learn more or apply, visit the Cochise College paramedicine program webpage.
Credits
- Writer
Cochise College News
- DATE
July 27, 2026
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