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New paramedics ready to serve

Shown, front row, from left, Virginia Purdy, lead instructor; Justin Dyer; Michele Swain; and Casey Elliot, EMS clinical instructor; back row, Kyle Crawford, Clark Andersen, Andrew Meacham and Hadin Robertson. [RICH KEEN/BRCC]

By Bill Moss, Published: December 6, 2025

Blue Ridge Community College hosted a paramedic graduation ceremony on Friday, Dec. 5, to honor six graduates now ready to serve the public.

The graduates were Clark Andersen, Kyle Crawford, Justin Dyer, Andrew Meacham, Hadin Robertson and Michele Swain.

“Paramedics are often the first hands to help and the first calming presence in moments of fear or crisis,” Connie Wolfe, executive vice president of programs at Blue Ridge Community College, told the graduates. “Knowing that you will be the ones answering those calls gives our entire community tremendous confidence.”

The ceremony at Bo Thomas Auditorium included a keynote address by Daniel Wesley, associate instructor of Emergency Medical Care at Western Carolina University and former EMS program director at Blue Ridge Community College. Additional remarks were offered by class representative Justin Dyer lead instructor Virginia Purdy and EMS clinical coordinator Casey Elliott. The event concluded with closing remarks from Christopher Williams, dean of public safety training, followed by the presentation of the Paramedic Cohort of 2025.