April 7, 2011

Fifteen graduate from Cowley College MICT Program

Graduation for 15 students in Cowley College’s Mobile Intensive Care Technician (paramedic) program was held March 31 in the Earle N. Wright Community Room at the main campus in Arkansas City.  The program that finished on February 25 completed the AAS degree requirements for these graduates. 

The following are the graduating members of the class: Lanna Allen, Wichita; Ellen Bayhyll/e, Andover; Jason Bowker, Mulvane; Collin Engraf, El Dorado; John Erie, Chanute; Brian Foltz, Andover; Katherine Glenn, Derby; Brandon Grimmett, Wichita; Jonathon Halley, Rose Hill; Kaitlyn Heitman, Belle Plaine; Scott Higgins, Oswego; Michael Lynch, Wichita; Malarie Umscheid, Wichita; Drew Vogt, Udall; and Nichlous Whitehead, Derby.

The evening began when Chris Cannon, Allied Health Department Chair, issued the welcome and discussed the education the graduates received while in Cowley’s program.  Cannon thanked the graduates for their extensive work during the program, and thanked the graduates’ families for supporting them during a difficult year.

Mark Terry, Deputy Chief of Operations for Johnson County Med-Act, delivered the keynote address to the graduating class. Terry emphasized the need for students to not only be competent clinicians, but to also value patient safety and compassionate care.

Deryk Ruddle, lead MICT instructor, conferred the certificates and presented the honor awards for the class.  Drew Vogt was the program honor graduate, Kaitlyn Heitman was the Lyle Eckhart award winner and Ellen Bayhylle was the Patrick J. McAtee award recipient.

Cannon presented a certificate of appreciation to Ruddle for his outstanding work and dedication to the EMS program. Dr. McAtee, president of Cowley College, then presented the class of 2009-2011 to the gathering of about 120 people who came to honor the graduates. 

During the course of their schooling, these graduates assessed over 4,000 patients and administered over 2,500 medications during the year.  With this 17th graduating class, Cowley MICT graduates now treat approximately 90,000 patients each year.

The national job outlook continues to be greater than average, and the local job outlook looks promising. 
Cowley currently has two MICT programs– one in Winfield at the Allied Health Education Center and another in Andover through a partnership with Butler Community College.

For more information on Cowley’s MICT programs go to www.cowley.edu/mict or call 620-221-3392.