Forty-four members of the Houston Fire Department recently graduated from Wharton County Junior College's Emergency Medical Services program. Pictured, left to right, are Trever Beaty, Samuel Carr and Jhaylen Covington-Berry.
WHARTON, TEXAS — The Houston Fire Department has turned to Wharton County Junior College for its paramedic training, with 44 firefighters graduating from the college’s program earlier this summer.
“WCJC’s flexibility, dedication to student success and willingness to tailor their program around HFD’s needs really set them apart,” said Houston Fire Department District Chief Rusty Mobley. “We have formed a strong and growing partnership that’s helping us train the next generation of HFD paramedics.”
HFD firefighters began taking classes in the fall of 2024 at WCJC’s Richmond campus. Of the 50 students that initially enrolled, 90 percent graduated. Mobley believes the retention rate is a result of the dedication and effort put forward by WCJC’s EMS faculty.
“WCJC has shown a strong commitment to teaching students on a personal level. Their instructors don’t just lecture, they take the time to mentor, support and guide each student through the program,” Mobley said. “This kind of individualized attention makes a big difference, especially in a demanding field like EMS.”
WCJC’s EMS department added new part-time and full-time staff in order to make the collaboration a success.
“There were some growing pains because of the increased enrollment and because we added a lot of part-time and full-time staff. But overall, it was an excellent team effort,” said WCJC EMS Program Director Karl Johnson. “Everybody helped out.”
WCJC EMS Advanced Coordinator Kris Kern was singled out for her dedication and commitment to the students.
“One of the things I’m most pleased with in our partnership with WCJC is the time and effort that Kris Kern and her team have dedicated to preparing students for the National Registry Exam. It’s clear they take student success personally, and it shows in the results,” Mobley said.
HFD plans to continue with the collaboration, with more firefighters set to enroll in WCJC’s EMS program this fall. For more information on the EMS program, visit wcjc.edu
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