From the Woodstock Fire/Rescue District:
Woodstock Fire Recognizes Five Paramedic Program Graduates
The Woodstock Fire/Rescue District proudly recognizes five of its members who recently graduated from McHenry County College’s Paramedic Program.
- Kyle Albert,
- Clair Patrick,
- David Pecoraro,
- Andrew Richardson, and
- Emmanuel Howard
each completed an intensive program that included classroom instruction, clinical rotations, and field internships, and are now eligible to pursue licensure through the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians and the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Their accomplishment reflects a deep commitment to advancing their skills in service to the community and will help strengthen the district’s emergency medical capabilities as they move forward to become licensed paramedics.
The 2024 to 2025 paramedic class at McHenry County College included 31 graduates, making it one of the largest programs of its kind in the state.
With graduation behind them, each student is now eligible to take the National Registry Paramedic Certification Exam to become licensed paramedics.
Scott Wessel, who serves as both a Program Coordinator and Instructor at McHenry County College and as a Lieutenant with the Woodstock Fire/Rescue District, shared his perspective on the importance of the program.
He said,
“The EMS profession has experienced a sharp increase in demand for advanced life support providers. McHenry County College is proud to graduate 31 students from the 2024 to 2025 program, a number which far exceeds most programs in the state. Ultimately, our new paramedics will contribute to the safety of McHenry County through employment with 11 fire protection agencies.”
He added,
“The ability to facilitate the students’ educational experience on campus coupled with providing mentorship in the clinical environment is incredibly rewarding. I get to watch, firsthand, tremendous personal and professional growth among our aspiring paramedics.”
The Woodstock Fire/Rescue District also extends its appreciation to Lieutenant Eric Kristensen, who served as a Skills Lab Trainer, and Firefighter/Paramedic Tyler Webster, who served as Lead Preceptor during clinical training.
Both are members of the district and played an important role in guiding and supporting this year’s class.
This year’s cohort benefited from continued investment in instructional resources.
Recent grant funding has allowed McHenry County College to upgrade classroom technology, enhance simulation labs, and expand enrollment capacity to meet the growing need for paramedics across the region.
The Woodstock Fire/Rescue District and Chief Brendan Parker congratulate the five graduates from our department on this important achievement and thank McHenry County College and its instructional team for their continued leadership in paramedic education and community preparedness.
We also extend our congratulations to the rest of the graduating class and the departments they represent for their commitment to strengthening emergency medical services throughout the region.
Photos are courtesy of the Woodstock Fire/Rescue District.
