Lock Haven EMS “graduates” first class of KCSD EMS students

By Christopher Miller

BALD EAGLE TOWNSHIP- Lock Haven EMS Chief Gerard Banfill was present at Thursday’s voting session of the Keystone Central School District school board to publicly recognize and congratulate the first KCSDEMT class which was made up of high school students and community members. The class was presented their scholarships from Lock Haven EMS.

“Along with these five students, there are six more adults that were in the program,” said Chief Banfill. “These five are also actively running with their local EMS.”

The program was a partnership between Lock Haven EMS and the school district to educate students interested in pursuing a career in the health services and emergency services fields.

“I see great things happening in this health program,” Banfill said.

The students started around May 20, 2023 during EMS Week and since then they were vetted, learned the Lock Haven EMS home, met their people, and they presented themselves to the students.

“Before we invested in the students we met with them, took them on ride-alongs, and they went through the vetting process,” Banfill explained.

At the end of the training, Banfill witnessed a tightness and a bond with the group of students.

“I am very proud of every single student and the adults and I am here to honor my commitment to the school board, the class, and to hoping to continue the process and relationship in the future,” Banfill said.

Charles Wentzel, Lead EMT Instructor for the course who was instrumental in steering the student and adult group through their inaugural EMT class, was on hand to meet with the school board officials.

“KCSD – thank you for the opportunity to teach this EMS class to your students, these students have matured during the class and they definitely learned a lot…this class should be proud, they are five points above the national average of 75% and in my 27 years of teaching this is the first class I have seen like this,” Charles said.

“Thank you all, and thank you, Gerard, for the opportunity to do this with you.”

Banfill also mentioned that there are currently three more students that are interested coming from the CTC and Homeland Security programs at KCSD.

“The next program will start up in August,” Banfill announced.