Pictured above are Brayden Blasing, Raylen Blasing, Zachary Blasing, Destyn Hill, Dylan Hood, Gavin Loken, Lily Quast, Tyler Schmahl, Jason Wheelock.
In a region where local emergency service options can be sparse, nine dedicated high school students have just taken a major step toward filling that gap. On January 14, the inaugural Emergency Medical Response (EMR) course held at JWP concluded, certifying a new generation of public servants ready to protect and serve the area.
The program, which began in September, required a rigorous commitment from the students. Over the course of several months, the group logged approximately 40 hours of intensive classroom training during the first hour of every school day, supplemented by hours of homework and hands-on practice.
The course was a collaborative effort suggested by Principal Rysdam and brought to life through a partnership between the school district and local veteran first responders. Fire Chief Mike Santo, a 35-year veteran of the department, worked alongside Brad Zinniel of Medical Safety Resources to facilitate the training. To ensure the program remained accessible, the school purchased all necessary education resources, allowing students to earn school credit and a professional certification at no personal cost.
During the graduation ceremony on January 14, Chief Santo welcomed the attendees and praised the students’ grit and determination for completing the course, “They may not have fully known what they were signing up for back in September,” Santo remarked, “but I am happy to announce that every single one of these nine students passed.”
The nine graduates are now certified through the American Heart Association for CPR and are registered EMR (Emergency Medical Responders) for the next two years. For Chief Santo, the program is also a potential recruitment tool for future public servants, “If we can get even one recruit for the fire department from this class, that would be fantastic,” he said. “Learning these skills highlights a mindset of civic duty.”
Peggy Zinniel, representing Medical Safety Resources—a family-owned training business based in Eagle Lake—stood in for her husband Brad, who was away on training. She noted the unique dedication of this group of Bulldogs, which notably included three siblings from a single family. “We are incredibly proud of the commitment shown here,” Zinniel said. “It is an honor to be part of this first-ever EMR course and to train a new generation of leaders in public service.”
Mark Griffith with South Central EMS also addressed the graduates, welcoming them into the professional first-responder community. “The teamwork that went into this course is incredible,” Griffith said. “You guys followed through, sacrificing what little time you have in your busy lives to learn public service. This sets the tone for a wonderful life based on helping others.”
Among the graduates was senior Lily Quast, who initially joined the class to fulfill a first-aid requirement she had missed years prior; however, through completing the course, she quickly found the experience to be much more than a credit on a transcript. “I was really glad to take part in the experience. It’s very cool to learn what to do in case of an emergency,” Quast said, noting that while the trauma assessment portions were challenging, they were also rewarding. Though she plans to become a teacher, Quast recognizes the universal value of her new skills, “There could always be a moment to use that training. From teaching to CPR, it’s all about service.”
As the ceremony concluded with a group picture of the certified students alongside Chief Santo, the atmosphere was one of excitement. With the success of this first EMR course, the JWP community hopes this program will continue to build a sustainable pipeline for local police, fire, and EMS departments for years to come.
