Iowa Central honors new paramedics at EMS Week pinning ceremony

A new Iowa Central paramedic is already headed for the Buena Vista and Cherokee County region, a small but important boost to the emergency-care pipeline that local residents rely on when every minute counts. Sarah Cummins was among six graduates honored Thursday, May 21, during the college’s 2026 paramedic pinning ceremony at the close of EMS Week.

Cummins earned an Associate of Applied Science in Paramedicine. She was pinned by her parents, Alan and Celeste Cummins, and will bring her training into a part of northwest Iowa where ambulance staffing, response times and rural coverage are constant concerns for local agencies. Iowa Central said the class completed classroom, lab, clinical and field experiences before moving into professional EMS work.

The rest of the class is spreading into hospitals and ambulance services across Iowa and beyond. Emily Angelo, who also earned an Associate of Applied Science in Paramedicine, will return home to New Hampshire to begin her EMS career. Troy Grimes, a United States Army veteran, will work for Belmond Emergency Services and Humboldt Ambulance Service. Emma Lee completed her Paramedic Certificate and will continue serving at Van Diest Medical Center. Brea Williams plans to begin a paramedic career in the Des Moines area, and Leland Williams, who earned his Paramedic Certificate, will work with Clarion Ambulance Service and the Waverly Health Center EMS Department.

The symbolic pinning gave the ceremony a personal dimension as family members and mentors took part in the recognition. Emily Angelo was pinned by her mother and father, Sarah Cummins by Alan and Celeste Cummins, Troy Grimes by his daughter Alivia Grimes, Emma Lee by her fiancé Sam Sexe, Brea Williams by her father Patrick Williams, and Leland Williams by his mentor Nick Nedza. Iowa Central said the graduates were honored for their dedication, perseverance and compassion after a rigorous program.

The timing mattered, too. EMS Week 2026 ran from May 17 through May 23 under the theme “Improving Outcomes, Together,” which EMS.gov says highlights collaboration across 911, healthcare, public health, fire service, law enforcement and other disciplines. EMS1 says the observance was authorized by President Gerald Ford in 1974.

For Buena Vista County, the value of ceremonies like this is practical, not ceremonial. Iowa Central said its EMS program maintains partnerships with hospitals, ambulance services and emergency response agencies throughout the region, building the workforce that keeps ambulances rolling in Storm Lake and surrounding communities. With one graduate heading directly into the Buena Vista area and others fanning out to neighboring counties, the class adds another layer of support to a system that depends on trained responders being ready when calls come in.