69����

Kim Godden, vice president of Superior Ambulance, emphasized the company’s commitment to local hiring.

“Superior Ambulance is committed to developing EMS professionals from the very communities we serve throughout Wisconsin,” Godden said. “Our training initiative helps us support homegrown talent and strengthen the EMS system that Janesville families rely on.”

“Programs like this open doors to rewarding careers that allow residents to give back to their communities,” Godden added.

Graduate Kiah Ayers was drawn to the course after working as a 911 dispatcher, saying she felt called “to be more influential than being behind the computer.”

Ayers said it felt good going into the 16-week EMT basic course, that focused on stabilizing patients for transport, knowing a job was waiting at the end.

“I know I have a job when I’m done with this,” she said.

For Ayers, who hopes to continue her education to become a nurse, said balancing the course load and parenthood was a significant challenge.

“It was not super easy at all,” she admitted, expressing gratitude for her family and the understanding of her classmates. “The last couple of weeks, just knowing that there’s an end goal that I can only build on from here... it was worth it.”

Ayers said the training prepared students to save lives but also to work as a team and to “lean on other people if you need help.”

She praised Air-Ground Ambulance Service for providing extra support and opening up the classroom for study groups, showing they “actually care about having their students pass.”

The ceremony held last week opened with remarks from Valerie Bruggeman, the director for external affairs for Superior Ambulance.

“Today is really a great day to celebrate, as these guys put in the hard work to complete the class and now are what we call a supreme part of the Superior family,” she said.

Bruggeman shared the company’s humble beginnings as a family-owned private ambulance service started 62 years ago in the back bedroom of the current CEO’s parents’ home. She praised the graduates for joining a team that has grown to employ 4,000 individuals across five states.

Gary Brown, the educator at the Janesville station, led the 16-week training program, noting that the graduates balanced work, family life, and the demanding course load.

“This is what EMS is: a collection of weirdos coming together to do this job that I’ve been in for quite a while,” Brown said affectionately. He stressed that while the classroom provided the foundation, the real learning happens on the job.

“I can’t teach them everything. They’re going to learn so much more, and so much faster, once they get out there and start doing it,” Brown said.

Valedictorian Finley Beyer acknowledged the intensity of the training.

“Now we’re ready to put into action what we’ve learned. So, congratulations to all of us. We passed. We’re going to go save lives,” Beyer said.

State Sen. Mark Spreitzer of Beloit and State Rep. Ann Roe of Janesville joined in the celebration.

Spreitzer highlighted the critical role of EMTs in the healthcare safety net that he said “people rely on.”

“You are going to interact with somebody in that moment where they need to see that face and say, ‘I know I’m in good hands.’ We just really appreciate that you’re stepping into this career,” Spreitzer said.

Roe added her thanks, noting the growing need for skilled emergency professionals.

“You do incredible, incredible work. We are so grateful because the need just keeps growing, and we need those talented, skilled faces,” Roe said. “Thank you for dedicating yourselves to that service.”