AVONDALE, Arizona – November 4, 2013 – The SouthWest Skill Center (SWSC) at Estrella Mountain Community College (EMCC), one of ten Maricopa Community Colleges, celebrated the accomplishments of 155 students at their Fall Completion Ceremony on Friday, November 1, 2013, at 3:00 p.m. on the Image Zone Lawn at of the EMCC campus, located at Dysart and Thomas Roads in Avondale.
The ceremony honored and recognized students receiving their Certificates of Completion from the Healthcare programs offered at EMCC. The largest cohort class is the Emergency Medical Technology (EMT) program with 61 graduates, followed by 28 in Medical Assistant, 21 in Spanish Medical Interpreter, 13 in Nursing Assistant, 12 in Phlebotomy, and 20 in Practical Nurse.
Two students were selected to speak at the Completion Ceremony based on their accomplishments. Ronnie Cato III represented the Cohort 29 of the Practical Nurse (PN) program and Kamesha Malone represents the 51 students completing the EMT program.
Ronnie Cato was inspired to become a nurse while working as an Arizona Department of Corrections Officer at Lewis Prison. He always admired the way that prison nursing staff cared for the inmates without judgment, and treated them as patients. Now that he a trained nurse, he will know both perspectives of care and feels that he can be an effective “bridge” between the officer and nursing staff.
Cato, originally from California, has been in Arizona for six years. As an Avondale resident, EMCC was a perfect choice, but didn’t select the campus solely on proximity. He researched and found that the nursing programs at EMCC seemed more comprehensive and delivered quality education with a challenging, meaningful curriculum. Some of his classmates travel from as far as Wickenburg and Payson for the same reason.
“The PN program at EMCC includes a more holistic approach to nursing,” said Cato. “It’s not just about treating the illness, it’s also important to understand the patient...like their personality, family, culture, diet and all the things that are important to them.”
Cato was impressed with his professors and attributes his successful completion of the program to their level of commitment to all of the nursing students. One of the most memorable is faculty Lewis Bright who would always tell his class, “Know it all,” emphasizing that they were not just learning chapter highlights or for tests, but for total patient care. “It’s because of that level of accountability I have the confidence to be the best nurse I can be.”
Since 1999, the SouthWest Skill Center has offered short-term job training and career development, specializing in allied health careers. SWSC students completing the PN program have an impressive 90 percent first-time pass rate on the exam leading to LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) designation. For students continuing into the EMCC Registered Nurse transfer program, there is an 84 percent pass rate for the exam leading to their RN license. The Center has been acclaimed for its active learning in a highly technological environment, such as the simulation lab which creates a practicum patient experience for students.
Kamesha Malone is not afraid of challenges, in fact, she thrives on it. As a concurrent student at both Millenium High School and EMCC, she keeps herself busy and focused. Malone is one of the 61 students completing the intense, 16-week Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) program, and one of the 18 West-MEC students.
West-MEC (Western Maricopa Education Center) provides innovative Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs to prepare high school students to enter the workforce and pursue continuing education. Courses are delivered at the West-MEC campus in Glendale and via their Satellite and Central Programs with twelve member school districts across the greater Phoenix metropolitan area. The EMT program at EMCC is a Central Program where students attend their home high school for core subjects and travel to West-MEC career campuses to receive their high school elective credits and opportunities to earn college credit, internship experience and industry certifications.
When Malone discovered that the WestMEC Nursing program at Millennium was full, she opted for EMT and never looked back. She likes that it is a fast-paced and challenging career, similar to her motivation for playing basketball and softball. She has a competitive nature and passion which drives her to be excellent and always expect more of herself, but always understands the value of being a team player which means helping others along the way.
Malone’s mother has been a big inspiration for her. As a diabetic, her mother often feels ill and tired, but continues to go to work and participate in life with joy in her heart. “It’s not just about being smart and educated,” said Malone. “I learned from my mom that you have to have heart and passion.”
Her driving determination is sometimes stressful as she struggles to find balance between work and play. She often makes sacrifices when it comes to making time for fun, which may be difficult for many girls her age. Malone stays focused for now, but knows that’s what it takes to achieve her goals and become the best she can be, and that makes it all worth it.
“As an EMT, you learn how to assist a person in trauma. You need to stay cool, know what to do, and know the steps to take,” said Malone. “And I guess that’s how I approach my own life too.”
Malone plans to continue at EMCC as a degree-seeking student in the Spring semester and join the Air Force to help pay for her college education. The medical field has always interested Malone and she is excited about the future. She’s not sure where and when her career path will end, but she has considered becoming a Neurologist, Emergency Room doctor or Pediatrician.