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Public Safety graduates
AVON PARK, Fla. – July 9, 2025 – South Florida State College (SFSC) honored 36 graduating students from three Public Safety Programs in a ceremony on Monday, July 7 on the SFSC Highlands Campus in Avon Park.
The 13 cadets from SFSC’s Fire Science Academy are: Diana Cuello, Peter Duffy, Jesus Inciarte-Fuenmaya, Kristian Gonzalez, Emily Jestes-Hagen, Kendall King, Donovan Lusby, Nicholas Camacho Medina, Chloe Mason, Alex Muirhead, Eric Puente, Danayja Sturn, and Zacharia Ward.
The 11 cadets from the Paramedic program are: Jayden Acker, Jalon Borders, Miguel Garcia, Wayland Hayes, Trina Hipp, Zane Little, Aleecia Rhoden, Lydia Rosario, Muhammad Shehadeh, Jaylen Sullivan, and Landon Yock.
The 12 cadets from the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) program are: Rylee Arthion, Noah Browning, Ashlynn Collins, Franchet Flint, Jaqueline Navarrete, Lysmariz Olivero, Alexandra Ross, Sheldon Rossin, Erick Salas, Christopher Sartin, Caden Storts, and Briseda Torres Ponce.
Steve Ashworth, director of the Public Safety Program, was guest speaker during the ceremony.
Special recognition was given to seven cadets: From the Fire Science class, Eric Puente was recognized for having the highest GPA. Kendall King and Nicholas Camacho Medina were recognized for their leadership. From the Paramedic class, Zane Little was lauded for having the Highest GPA in Lecture and Landon Yock for having the Highest GPA in Lab. From the EMT class, Alexandra Ross was honored for having the Highest GPA in Lecture and Jaqueline Navarrete for Highest GPA in Lab.
Graduates of the Firefighter Career Certificate program have completed 492 contact hours of training. A cohort of cadets enroll in the Firefighter I course, often with the expectation of continuing through to Firefighter II training. Firefighter II training is required for those who wish to be employed as professional firefighters in Florida.
The paramedic graduates completed an 11-month College Credit Certificate course offered through SFSC’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) program. Paramedics work as part of an emergency response team called out to traffic accidents, fires, and other life-threatening situations.
The EMT graduates completed the 16 weeks of training, or 300 contact hours, in the program. Upon completion of the program, graduates are eligible to apply to take the Florida EMT State Board Exam. EMTs function as part of an emergency rescue and transportation team by responding to emergency calls through a dispatch system, operating emergency vehicles safely, assessing scenes of accidents or illnesses, setting priorities for treating patients based on their degree of illness or injury, providing pre-hospital emergency care to treat trauma, shock, wounds, and other medical issues.
For more information about any of SFSC’s Public Safety programs, contact the SFSC Advising and Counseling Center at 863-784-7131 or visit southflorida.edu.
