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[ATCEMS Graduation on September 21, 2026.]
EVERYONE.WOULD YOU ALL PLEASE BE SEATED? CADETS.
AT THIS TIME I WILL ASK EVERYONE TO PLEASE STAND IF YOU ARE ABLE AS THE A-T-C-E-M-S.
HONOR GUARD PROVIDES THE PRESENTATION OF THE COLORS AND AFTERWARDS PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM SUNG BY AUSTIN LOCAL ENTERTAINERS, RACHEL ANTE AND ALANA BREEDLOVE.
OH SAY CAN YOU SEE BY THE DOGS OR THE WHAT? WHAT'S SO PROUDLY WE HELD AT THE TWILIGHTS LAST WHO'S BROAD STRIPES AND BRIGHT STARS THROUGH THE PARA OR THE RAM PARTS WE WATCHED WERE SO STREAMING AND THE ROCK THROUGH THE NIGHT THAT OUR FLAG WAS STILL THERE, THAT THE LAND OF THE FREE AND THE
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READY.I AM COMMANDER CHRIS TER AND IT IS MY PLEASURE TO SERVE AS THE MASTER OF CEREMONIES TODAY.
WELCOME TO THE GRADUATION OF AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY EMS CADET CLASS 0 7 2 6.
THANK YOU TO THE EXECUTIVE STAFF AND MEMBER OF THE AUSTIN CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICE FOR JOINING US TODAY.
THANK YOU TO THE FAMILY, THE FRIENDS, AND THE SUPPORTERS OF ALL OF OUR CADETS.
YOU MEAN SO MUCH TO THEM AND I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE TRAINING CADRE OF CLASS OH 7 2 6.
WOULD YOU ALL PLEASE STAND? THIS GROUP WORKED TIRELESSLY FROM PREPARING FOR AND PLANNING THIS VERY LARGE CLASS TO TRAINING AND EDUCATING THESE CADETS.
I CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH AND I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE SOME OF OUR DISTINGUISHED GUESTS WE HAVE WITH US TODAY.
DEPUTY CITY MANAGER JOHN FORTUNE, COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA HARPER MADISON, MEMBERS OF THE AUSTIN PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION, RAMIREZ AND BERNHARDT AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT ASSISTANT CHIEF MCKAY AND DIVISION CHIEF SILAS.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF AUSTIN.
TRAVIS COUNTY EMS. I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME A-T-C-E-M-S, CAPTAIN KANITA PHILLIPS TO THE PODIUM TO DELIVER TODAY'S INVOCATION THAT WAS WRITTEN BY A-T-C-E-M-S MEDIC COURTNEY WRIGHT.
TODAY WE GATHER IN COMMUNITY WITH GOOD INTENTION TO CELEBRATE THE END OF CLASSES 0 7 2 6 ACADEMY TRAINING AND ALL OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THEREIN.
WE GATHER ALSO TO CELEBRATE THE BEGINNING OF THEIR CAREERS AS MEDICS IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY.
LET US NOW DRAW OUR ATTENTION TO THE EXCEPTIONAL CAREER WHICH THE INDIVIDUALS BEFORE US HAVE CHOSEN IN CHOOSING TO BE MEDICS.
OUR CADETS HAVE CHOSEN TO OPEN THEMSELVES TO THE WORLD AROUND THEM WHILE MANY OF US LIVE OUR LIVES.
IN PARALLEL TO OUR NEIGHBORS EXPERIENCING ONLY OUR OWN PERSONAL HARDSHIPS, JOYS AND TRAGEDIES, OUR CADETS WILL WALK TOWARDS THE THOUSANDS OF LIVES AROUND THEM.
IN DOING SO, THEY WILL FIND THEMSELVES EVERY DAY AND THE INTIMATE CORNERS OF OTHERS' LIVES.
WHAT ARE THESE CORNERS MADE OF? THEY ARE MADE OF FEAR, GRIEF AND LOVE MADE OF SUFFERING, VIOLENCE, AND THE ENDURING HUMAN SPIRIT.
IT IS A YOUNG WOMAN WHO HAS JUST IN, WAS JUST INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT AND FINDS HERSELF AFRAID BUT NOT ALONE IN THE BACK OF THE AMBULANCE.
IT IS THE ELDERLY INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS FALLEN FOR THE THIRD TIME THIS WEEK AND STRUGGLES TO ACCEPT THAT OUR
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PRESENCE MEANS HIS BODY CAN NO LONGER KEEP UP WITH HIS MIND.IT IS THE PARENT WHO WATCHES A BELOVED CHILD GRAPPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS AND FEELS A LITTLE LESS ALONE WHEN OUR MEDICS SAY I'M A PARENT TOO.
FOR THESE AND THOUSANDS OF OTHER SCENARIOS, OUR MEDICS HAVE CHOSEN TO BE THERE.
THEY HAVE CHOSEN TO BEAR WITNESS AND THEY HAVE BEEN ENDOWED WITH THE ABILITY AND SPIRIT TO HELP IN ANY AND ALL OF THE WAYS THEY CAN.
AS A COMMUNITY, WE UPHOLD AND GIVE THANKS FOR THE CADETS BEFORE US.
WE GIVE THANKS THAT THEY HAVE CHOSEN THIS EXCEPTIONAL CAREER.
WE GIVE THANKS ALSO FOR THEIR HEALTH, THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND ALL THAT ENABLES THEM TO PURSUE IT.
LET US ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IN OPENING THEMSELVES TO THE WORLD IN THIS WAY, OUR MEDICS MAY BE CHALLENGED NOT ONLY BY COM COMPLEX SOCIETAL QUESTIONS, BUT BY TRANSCENDENT QUESTIONS TOO.
WHETHER THEY THEY IDENTIFY AS RELIGIOUS, SPIRITUAL, ATHEIST OR AGNOSTICS, OUR MEDICS ARE OPPOSED TO FORM A UNIQUE RELATIONSHIP WITH SUFFERING AND DEATH.
IN DOING SO, THEY CONTINUE A FOUNDATIONAL TRAIT OF HUMANITIES, ANCIENT LINEAGE TO PERCEIVE AND QUESTION WHAT IS OR IS NOT BEYOND THIS LIFE.
WE APPRECIATE THE GRAVITY OF THIS MOST SPECIAL CHALLENGE.
NOW WE SEND YOU FORTH, BUT FIRST WE OFFER YOU A SERIES OF BLESSINGS.
MAY YOUR HANDS BE STEADY AND YOUR MINDS BE SHARP.
MAY YOU ENDURE WHEN TIRED AND ENDURE WHEN DISCOURAGED.
MAY YOU HAVE MOMENTS OF LAUGHTER AND DELIGHT AND WHEN YOU FEEL THE WEIGHT OF THIS JOB A TIME WHICH WILL SURELY COME, MAY YOU FIND RESPITE IN THE BROTHERS AND SISTERS SITTING BESIDE YOU TODAY.
FINALLY, MAY YOUR WORDS AND ACTIONS BE AN INSPIRATION THAT YOUR SERVICE MAY GO BEYOND TRAVIS COUNTY AND REVERBERATE INTO THE BETTERMENT OF THE WORLD AROUND YOU.
THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS.
CLASS OH 7 2 6 8 WEEKS AGO WE CAME TOGETHER FOR THE FIRST TIME TODAY 38 OF YOU WILL GRADUATE.
37 FIELD CADETS AND ONE COMMUNICATIONS CADET EACH BEGINNING A DIFFERENT ROLE IN THE SAME MISSION OF SERVING THIS COMMUNITY.
AT ORIENTATION, I SPOKE ABOUT COMMITMENT, WHAT IT MEANS TO GIVE YOURSELF TO SOMETHING LARGER THAN YOURSELF.
TODAY I WANNA CARRY THAT IDEA A LITTLE BIT FARTHER.
COMMITMENT ISN'T SOMETHING YOU DEMON, YOU DEMONSTRATE OVER JUST EIGHT WEEKS.
IT IS SOMETHING YOU DEMONSTRATE OVER A CAREER AND WHEN THAT COMMITMENT IS PUT INTO ACTION, IT BECOMES SERVICE.
THIS MONTH OUR COUNTRY MARKED 25 YEARS SINCE SEPTEMBER 11TH.
FOR SOME OF US, SEPTEMBER 11TH IS A MEMORY.
FOR MANY OF YOU IT IS HISTORY, BUT FOR THIS PROFESSION OF PUBLIC SAFETY, IT IS A PART OF OUR INHERITANCE.
25 YEARS LATER, WE STILL REMEMBER THE FIRST RESPONDERS WHO ANSWERED WHEN PEOPLE NEEDED THEM, NOT SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THE UNIFORM THEY WORE, BUT BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY CHOSE TO DO WHILE WEARING IT.
BUT DON'T MISTAKE SERVICE FOR HEROISM.
MOST OF YOUR CAREER WILL NOT HAPPEN DURING HISTORIC EVENTS.
SERVICE WILL USUALLY BE MUCH QUIETER.
IT WILL BE AT 3:00 AM IN THE MORNING WHEN SOMEONE CALLS BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE ELSE TO TURN FOR THOSE ENTERING THE FIELD.
IT MAY BE, IT MAY MEAN WALKING INTO SOMEONE'S HOME ON ONE OF THE WORST DAYS OF THEIR LIVES.
FOR YOU ENTERING THE COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION, IT WILL MEAN THE CALMING VOICE, SENDING OTHERS TO WHERE THEY NEED TO GO.
IT WILL BE SHOWING PATIENCE WHEN YOURS IS RUNNING THIN, DOING THE RIGHT THING WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING AND HELPING WHEN YOU ARE IN A POSITION TO HELP.
THIS IS SERVICE CLASS OH 7 2 6.
OVER THESE EIGHT WEEKS WE'VE WATCHED YOU BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND THAT RESPONSIBILITY.
YOU'VE BEEN CHALLENGED IN THE CLASSROOM DURING SCENARIOS AND IN THE FIELD AND YOU'VE LEARNED THAT COMPETENCE ISN'T SOMETHING HANDED TO YOU SIMPLY BY GRADUATING.
IT IS BUILT THROUGH REPETITION, HUMILITY, FEEDBACK, AND THE WILLINGNESS TO KEEP GETTING BETTER.
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ACADEMY ENDS, BUT THAT COMMITMENT DOES NOT.A CAREER OF SERVICE ISN'T BUILT IN A SINGLE DEFINING MOMENT.
IT IS BUILT THROUGH THOUSANDS OF SMALL DECISIONS TO SHOW UP, TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND TO HELP WHEN YOU CAN AND TO CONTINUE GETTING BETTER.
THOSE DECISIONS REPEATED OVER A CAREER BECOME YOUR LEGACY CLASS OH 7 2 6.
IT IS THE BEGINNING OF YOUR COMMITMENT.
CONGRATULATIONS NOW CHOSEN BY HER PEERS.
I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE CADET MCKAYLA COHOR TO THE PODIUM TO SHARE A FEW WORDS.
IT'S AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE JUST TO BE HERE TODAY, LET ALONE TO BE STANDING UP HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF OH 7 2 6.
I WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE IN AUSTIN.
I WAS BORN IN SETON, MAINE, ACTUALLY, WHICH WE ALL AGREE HAS THE BEST HOSPITAL BREAK ROOM SNACKS IN THE AREA.
I'M A PROUD GRADUATE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS.
I'M AN OLDER SISTER TO TWO WONDERFUL YOUNG MEN AND I'M REALLY HONESTLY JUST HAPPY TO BE HERE.
I MIGHT NOT BE THE SHARPEST NEEDLE IN THE HAYSTACK OR WHATEVER, UM, BUT I PROMISE I GOT A LOT OF HEART TO MAKE UP FOR IT.
I'VE HAD THE GREAT PRIVILEGE OF GROWING UP IN THIS WEIRD AND WONDERFUL CITY, UM, THAT JUST SO HAPPENS TO BE HOME TO THE BEST EMS SYSTEM IN THE COUNTRY.
UM, SOME MIGHT SAY THAT YOU HAVE TO BE A FEW BISCUITS SHORT OF A PICNIC, UM, TO FEEL LIKE EMS IS YOUR CALLING AND THAT VERY WELL MAY BE TRUE.
MY UNCLE MIKE WAS A FIREFIGHTER POLICE OFFICER AND PARAMEDIC IN DALLAS, TEXAS.
UM, AND YOU CAN IMAGINE THE CRAZY STORIES THAT WOULD COME OUTTA THAT MAN'S MOUTH AND I WOULD HANG ON TO EVERY WORD HE HAD TO SAY WHEN I WAS GROWING UP.
UM, THE EXCITEMENT, THE MEDICINE AND THE IDEA OF WORKING WITH PEOPLE IN BOTH HIGH AND LOW ACUITY SITUATIONS, UM, WAS CAPTIVATING TO ME.
UH, I ALWAYS FELT DRAWN TO EMERGENCY MEDICINE, BUT I NEVER FELT LIKE I QUITE HAD WHAT IT TOOK TO SUCCEED IN THAT FIELD.
UM, UNLIKE JESSICA, UH, VAN DE MARVE WHO, UH, SAW A STRETCHER, UM, IN A HOSPITAL WHEN SHE WAS FOUR AND WAS LIKE, THAT'S WHAT I WANNA DO.
UM, IT WASN'T UNTIL MY FIRST CIVILIAN RIDE OUT WITH CAPTAIN GRANT TATE OF DEMAND THREE AND A CLOSE FAMILY FRIEND A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO, UM, TO SEE IF EMS WAS REALLY SOMETHING THAT I COULD HANDLE AND COMMIT TO AND I JUST HAD THE BEST TIME.
I REMEMBER COMING HOME, UM, ALL STARRY-EYED AND GUSHING ABOUT IT TO MY DAD.
UM, I GAVE HIM THE PLAY BY PLAY OF THE CALLS WE RAN.
UM, AND I STILL HAVE THE NOTES I TOOK THAT DAY.
THEY'RE ALL HIPAA COMPLIANT, OF COURSE.
UM, AND AT THE VERY END I WROTE A LITTLE BLURB ABOUT HOW I WAS CERTAIN THAT NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENED, I JUST HAD TO WORK ON AN AMBULANCE AND I HAD TO WORK HERE ON AN AMBULANCE.
IF THERE'S ONE THING ABOUT BEING FROM AUSTIN, IT'S THAT YOU LEARN PRETTY QUICKLY THAT THE CITY IS ALWAYS CHANGING.
THERE ARE QUITE A FEW NATIVE AUSTINITES IN THIS CLASS, UM, AND WE CAN ALL TELL YOU PRETTY MUCH JUST HOW RAPIDLY, UH, AND DRASTICALLY THE CITY HAS CHANGED OVER THE PAST DECADE OR SO.
SOMETIMES I GET A LITTLE GRUMPY WHEN FACED WITH THE REALITY OF CHANGE.
I CAN'T EVEN BEGIN TO TELL YOU OR HOW MANY MORE TIMES I'LL SAY AUSTIN ISN'T WHAT IT USED TO BE, BUT I HAD TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE WHOLE WORLD IS CHANGING AROUND US ALL THE TIME, NOT JUST HERE.
THE EARTH ITSELF IS QUITE LITERALLY SHIFTING AND TURNING UNDER OUR FEET AND WE ARE CONSTANTLY CHANGING AS PEOPLE.
I REALIZED THAT IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO BE PROUD OF WHERE YOU LIVE AND WHAT CONTINUES TO ENFORCE.
MY DEEP LOVE FOR THIS CITY IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THE PEOPLE WHO ALSO LIVE HERE OR COME VISIT HERE, ACL SOUTH BY B FOOTBALL AND MORE RECENTLY ALSO GETTING TO WATCH SOME OF MY FELLOW CADETS EXPERIENCE AND BEGIN TO NAVIGATE THE CITY FOR THE FIRST TIME, WHICH CAN BE PRETTY CHALLENGING.
ONE CONCEPT THAT I FIND COMFORTING WHEN THINKING ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE CHANGE IS THAT ENERGY IS NEVER CREATED OR DESTROYED.
AND OVER THE PAST EIGHT WEEKS, I THINK WE'VE DONE A WHOLE LOT OF TRANSFORMING.
WE CAME INTO THIS ACADEMY AS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS AND DIFFERENT STORIES, DIFFERENT STRENGTHS AND DIFFERENT REASONS FOR BEING HERE.
YOU TAKE EIGHT WEEKS OF VERY EARLY MORNINGS, LONG DAYS, SORE BODIES, ANXIETY, LAUGHTER, FRUSTRATION, AND PROBABLY MORE CAFFEINE THAN ANY HUMAN BODY COULD LIKE REASONABLY TOLERATE.
AND YOU GET A GROUP OF PEOPLE WALKING OUT AS AN EMS CREW SOMEWHERE BETWEEN ORIENTATION AND STANDING HERE.
TODAY WE LEARNED THAT THIS JOB ASKS A LOT MORE OF YOU THAN SIMPLY KNOWING WHAT TO DO ON A CALL.
THIS ACADEMY BROUGHT UP A LOT OF HARD TRUTHS.
THIS ACADEMY ASKED US TO TAKE A LOOK AT OURSELVES WHEN THINGS GOT HARD, IT ASKED, WHO ARE YOU WHEN YOU'RE WAKING UP AT FOUR IN THE MORNING? WHO ARE YOU WHEN YOU'RE FRUSTRATED, OVERSTIMULATED HOT AND SWEATY AND HUNGRY? HOW DO YOU RESPOND WHEN YOU'RE BEING CHALLENGED, CORRECTED
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AND PUSHED OUTSIDE OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE? WHO ARE YOU WHEN GUNNER MARTIN PARTS HIS BIG A TRUCK INTO OUR TWO SMALL SPARK PARKING SPACES AND YOU'RE FORCED TO CLIMB OUT THE TRUNK OF YOUR OWN CAR BECAUSE HE BLOCKED YOU IN? ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE LEARNED DURING THESE EIGHT WEEKS IS THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE VERY LITTLE CONTROL OVER WHAT HAPPENS AROUND US.WE CAN'T CONTROL THE CALL THAT WE'RE DISPATCHED TO WHAT PATIENT WE ENCOUNTER.
WE CAN'T CONTROL TRAFFIC OR WEATHER, ESPECIALLY NOT IN THE CITY.
THE DEVIL CONTROLS THAT, BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR FOCUS, OUR ACTIONS AND OUR INTENTIONS.
MOREOVER, WE CAN CHOOSE TO STAY IN THE DISCOMFORT JUST A LITTLE LONGER BECAUSE THERE IS OFTEN SOMETHING WORTH CHASING.
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT, OUR CLASS FLAG WHOSE DESIGN HAD CUMULATIVE INPUT FROM THE CLASS AND WAS OFFICIALLY DESIGNED BY KATERINA RO SAYS, RA UNA SORA.
YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE THAT RIGHT NOW.
THERE WAS ALWAYS ONE MORE PERSON IN LINE.
ONE MORE PERSON TO ACCOUNT FOR ONE MORE VOICE, ONE MORE PERSONALITY, ONE MORE PAIR OF HANDS, BUT I THINK ALWAYS ONE MORE CAME TO ME, SOMETHING ELSE TOO.
ONE MORE QUESTION, ONE MORE REP, ONE MORE SCENARIO, ONE MORE DAY.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, ONE MORE THING YOU COULD DO FOR THE PERSON STANDING NEXT TO YOU.
I SAW INCREDIBLE LEADERSHIP IN SO MANY PEOPLE.
STEVEN MILLER SPECIFICALLY BEING ONE OF THEM.
MILLER IS SOMEONE WHO SHOWS UP FOR HIMSELF AND HIS TEAM AND GIVES HIS ALL EVERY TIME.
THE MOST EXTREME EXAMPLE BEING WHEN HE WAS DRIVING TO CAMPUS ONE MORNING HE SEES A CRASHED CAR ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, NO RESPONDERS ON SCENE YET, AND HE GETS OUT OF HIS CAR IN THE DARK.
IT'S LIKE 5:00 AM AND HE IS WEARING A BLACK SHIRT, THE ONLY WHITE BEING HIS LAST NAME ON THE BACK.
AND HE WRESTLES THE DRIVER WHO ENDED UP BEING A SEVERELY ALTERED PATIENT TO HER FROM RUNNING INTO TRAFFIC UNTIL HELP ARRIVED.
AND THEN HE PULLS UP TO PT STILL ON TIME, I MIGHT ADD AND WAS JUST LIKE, YEAH, I THOUGHT I WAS GONNA GET STABBED THIS MORNING.
AND ALL OF THAT IS TO SAY I SAW PEOPLE COMING TIRED AND STILL GIVING MORE EVEN WHEN PURSUING A MASTER'S DEGREE OR A FLIGHT MEDIC PROGRAM AND BALANCING FAMILIES AND KIDS' FIRST DAYS OF SCHOOL AND RESPONSIBILITIES OUTSIDE OF THIS ACADEMY, WHICH ITSELF WAS NOT WITHOUT ITS CHALLENGES.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST ONE BEING WRESTLING WITH THAT OVERWHELMING EVIL IMPOSTER SYNDROME.
I DO WANNA POINT OUT THE OTHER MOTTO WE CONSIDER FOR THIS CLASS MEINE.
THERE'S A QUESTION MARK AT THE END OF THAT.
DO YOU REMEMBER? AND THAT'S FOR MARCUS GONZALEZ WHO ASKED WHY THINGS ARE ALWAYS WRITTEN IN LATIN ALL THE TIME.
THAT MOTTO WAS CREATED WITH OUR GRADUATION DATE IN MIND, THE 21ST NIGHT OF SEPTEMBER AND NOD TO EARTH, WIND AND FIRE.
I HOPE Y'ALL LEFT OUT COOKIES FOR THEM LAST NIGHT.
AND I THINK THAT IS ALSO FITTING BECAUSE THIS ACADEMY HAS GIVEN US A LOT TO REMEMBER.
A VERY SPECIAL PARAMEDIC WITH THE DEPARTMENT.
JUSTIN INKSTROM TOLD ME SOMETHING, BUT I, BEFORE I STARTED THE ACADEMY AND BEFORE HE WENT OUT ON PATERNITY LEAVE AND SAID TO ONE, ENJOY IT BECAUSE IT GOES TOO FAST.
AND TWO, YOU WILL ENCOUNTER SOME OF THE BEST PEOPLE YOU'LL EVER MEET IN YOUR LIFE.
AND HE WAS RIGHT ON BOTH ACCOUNTS.
I HOPE WE WILL REMEMBER THE EXCITEMENT OF THE FIRST DAY.
I'M SURE WE WILL REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME WE CLIMBED ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP OF THE TOWER AND REALIZED EXACTLY HOW MANY STEPS ARE IN NINE STORIES.
I'M SURE WE'LL REMEMBER ONLY A WEEKEND REPELLING OFF THAT SAME TOWER DURING WHICH I REMEMBER THINKING, I CAN'T DO THIS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE ACADEMY.
AND I WAS TRYING TO GET MY LEG OVER THE SIDE OF THE RAILING AND MY PANTS DIDN'T FIT RIGHT AND MY FOREARMS WERE SHAKING.
I'M LOOKING DOWN AT THE GROUND, I'M TRYING NOT TO THROW UP.
AND THEN I LOOK BACK TO SEE MY COMMANDER HOLDING A CAMERA IN MY FACE AND TELLING ME TO SMILE.
AND I THOUGHT COMMANDER KELZER IS GONNA BE THE LAST FACE I SEE BEFORE I PLUMMET OFF THE SIDE OF THIS BUILDING.
AND THAT PICTURE HE JUST TOOK IS GONNA BE WHAT THEY PUT ON MY FUNERAL INVITATION.
I'M SURE WE'LL REMEMBER HEARING THE LYRICS TO EMINEM'S GRAMMY AWARD WINNING CHART TOP OR LOSE YOURSELF ECHOING UP THE TOWER STAIRWELL.
AND KNOWING ALYSSA EST OPINION HAS ENTERED THE BUILDING, I REMEMBER THINKING IF SHE CAN RAP WHILE GOING UP THESE STAIRS, THEN I CAN PUSH A LITTLE HARDER.
AND ASIDE FROM THE TOWER AND ALL ITS MEANING, I HOPE WILL REMEMBER THE PEOPLE SITTING NEXT TO US NOW BECAUSE ONE DAY DAYS, OR WEEKS OR YEARS FROM NOW WHEN WE'RE SCATTERED ACROSS DIFFERENT STATIONS, SHIFTS, CAREERS, WHEREVER OUR OWN TIMELINES TAKE US.
I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'LL REMEMBER EVERY POWERPOINT OR PROTOCOL, BUT I THINK WE'LL REMEMBER EACH OTHER.
I THINK WE'LL REMEMBER THE PEOPLE WHO HELPED US LOCK IN WHEN WE WERE GETTING IN OUR OWN HEADS LIKE CHRIS ACOSTA, WHO NOTICED WHEN I WAS OVERWHELMED AND GOING NONVERBAL FROM THINKING WAY TOO HARD DURING SCENARIO TRAINING.
AND HE LITERALLY LIKE SHAKE ME BY THE SHOULDER AND SAY, YOU GOT IT DUDE.
BY THE WAY, I WANNA CHEESEBURGER,
THE FOLKS WHO SEE YOU, THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE YOU WANNA TAKE PRIDE IN WHAT WE DO.
THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT HELP BUILD TRUST WITHIN A TEAM.
AND TO ALL OF YOU SITTING OUT THERE WHO WATCHED YOUR CADET WORK INCREDIBLY HARD JUST TO GET TO THIS MOMENT.
PARENTS, SPOUSES, PARTNERS, SIBLINGS, FRIEND, CHILDREN, THOMAS'S AUNT, AND
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EVERYONE WHO SUPPORTED SOMEONE STANDING ON THIS STAGE TODAY, I WANNA TELL YOU PERSONALLY THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE INCREDIBLE LEADERS AND THESE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO MAKE OUTSTANDING CLINICIANS.YOU KNOW BETTER THAN ANYONE, JUST HOW MUCH IT TOOK TO GET HERE.
YOU WERE THERE FOR THE APPLICATION PROCESS ALONE.
I KNOW MY PARENTS WERE NOT THE ONLY ONES SAYING TONE.
HAVE YOU HEARD BACK YET? HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN AGAIN, HOW MANY PHASES ARE THERE? YOU WATCHED YOUR CADET WASH AND WEAR THE SAME FOUR SHIRTS OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
YOU PACKED LUNCHES, YOU ADJUSTED SCHEDULES.
MAYBE YOU EVEN MOVED HERE FOR THIS JOB.
YOU OFFERED ENCOURAGEMENT AND CELEBRATED THE WINS AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO, I'M SURE.
BUT BECAUSE YOU SHOWED UP FOR THEM, YOU SHOWED UP FOR ALL OF US.
SO TODAY ISN'T JUST A CELEBRATION OF THE PEOPLE STANDING ON THIS STAGE, BUT A CELEBRATION OF THE PEOPLE WHO HELPED US GET HERE AND WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT US THROUGH WHAT IS WIDELY UNDERSTOOD TO BE A CHALLENGING CAREER TO OUR CADRE.
THANK YOU FOR SEEING SOMETHING IN US BEFORE WE COULD SEE IT IN OURSELVES.
THANK YOU FOR PUSHING US, CORRECTING US, AND CHALLENGING US.
THANK YOU FOR REFUSING TO LET US SETTLE FOR GOOD ENOUGH AND ENFORCING A SENSE OF PRIDE IN OURSELVES IN THE BADGE WE WILL SOON WEAR.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR EXPERIENCE AND YOUR PATIENCE.
THANK YOU FOR TAPPING INTO YOUR RESERVES AND MAYBE DISCOVERING SOME PATIENTS THAT YOU DIDN'T EVEN KNOW YOU HAD.
THANK YOU FOR STAYING AFTER CLASS COACHING US AS WE RAN THROUGH ALL THE VANTAGE POINT NEEDLES AND THE PRACTICE.
AMPY AMPULES, SHOWING UP EARLY TO GET A FEW EXTRA HOURS OF AMBULANCE DRYING BEING IN BEFORE THE CITY WOKE UP, ANSWERING ALL OF OUR QUESTIONS, ANSWERING THOSE SAME QUESTIONS AGAIN, AND THROUGH IT ALL, HELPING US OVERCOME THAT RECURRING FEELING OF INSECURITY.
THE VOICE IN OUR SAYS IN OUR HEAD THAT SAYS, YOU DON'T BELONG HERE.
AND INSTEAD GRADUALLY INSTILLING THAT CONFIDENCE IN US TO CONVINCE US THAT WE DO.
I KNOW THAT EACH OF US WILL CARRY DIFFERENT MEMORIES FROM THESE EIGHT WEEKS, AND I WISH I COULD TALK ABOUT THEM ALL.
THERE REALLY IS NOTHING LIKE LOOKING OVER DURING TOWER DAY.
THIS IS THE LAST TIME I MENTIONED THE TOWER.
AND SEEING YOUR CHIEF OF STAFF JUST HAULING A TIRE ALONGSIDE YOU.
AND THERE REALLY IS NOTHING LIKE WATCHING THE SUNRISE WITH A GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT I ADMIRE, RESPECT AND CARE FOR.
I'LL END ON SOMETHING THAT MY GRANDMOTHER BARBARA ARMS ALWAYS SAID TO ME.
PEOPLE WILL MOST LIKELY FORGET WHO YOU ARE, WHAT YOU WORE.
THEY MIGHT FORGET THE THINGS YOU SAID IN YOUR FACE AND YOUR NAME, BUT PEOPLE WILL SELDOM FORGET HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL.
AND HOW LUCKY AM I TO BE STANDING IN FRONT OF 37 PEOPLE WHO MAKE ME WANNA BE BETTER, WHO POSSESS QUALITIES THAT I STRIVE TO IMITATE? PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T MIND WHEN I TRIED TO RHYME THEIR NAMES AND SILLY MARCHING CADENCES AS BOO BEAR ONCE SAID, HOW LUCKY AM I TO HAVE SOMETHING THAT MAKES SAYING GOODBYE SO HARD? SO OH 7 2 6.
AS WE LEAVE HERE TODAY, OUR RESPONSIBILITIES, SCHEDULE AND CAREERS WILL ALL CHANGE.
I MAY NOT GET TO SEE SOME OF Y'ALL FOR A LONG TIME, UNLESS IT'S IN A ST.
DAVID'S BREAK ROOM OR SOMETHING.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO ADAPT AND EVOLVE, KNOWN ONLY AS PUBLIC SERVANTS, BUT AS PEOPLE, THE CITY WE SERVE WILL CONTINUE TO GROW AND TRANSFORM.
BUT THROUGH IT ALL, I HOPE WE REMEMBER THAT WHEN THE DAYS GET HARD AND THEY WILL REMEMBER THAT YOU HAVE ALREADY PROVEN THAT YOU CAN DO HARD THINGS.
TEXAS ITSELF IS NOT FOR THE WEAK OR THE TIMID, AND NEITHER IS THIS NEW RULE ROLE THAT WE'VE STEPPED INTO.
I HOPE YOU'RE PROUD OF THE PERSON YOU ARE TODAY TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE CALM, PROFESSIONAL, AND COMPASSIONATE CARE AMIDST CHAOS IS TRUE ALCHEMY.
THANK YOU FOR THIS EXPERIENCE AND I CAN'T WAIT TO WORK WITH Y'ALL.
IT IS NOW MY PRIVILEGE TO INTRODUCE TODAY'S KEYNOTE SPEAKER.
HE HAS OVER 25 YEARS OF EMS EXPERIENCE AS AN EMT PARAMEDIC EDUCATOR, ATTORNEY, AND ORGANIZATIONAL LEADER.
HE'S ALSO NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED SPEAKER AND CONSULTANT ON LEADERSHIP THEORY, ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR, DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION HERE AT AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY EMS. WE ARE PROUD TO SIMPLY CALL HIM CHIEF.
PLEASE WELCOME AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY, EMS, CHIEF ROBERT LUCR.
WELL, THIS IS OUR FIRST TIME HOSTING THIS EVENT IN THIS VENUE.
UM, AND I GOTTA SAY IT'S, IT'S A PRETTY POWERFUL PLACE.
AND WHEN I LOOK OUT HERE, UM, AND I SEE ALL OF THE AMAZING INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE JOINED US HERE TODAY, IT REALLY DOES SPEAK ABSOLUTE VOLUMES ABOUT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
Y'ALL CAME IN AND I KNOW THEY WERE ALREADY IN THE ROOM, BUT IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE, JUST, JUST TURN AROUND AND LOOK RIGHT NOW.
AND HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE HERE SUPPORTING YOU,
IT REALLY IS ONE OF THE MOST HUMBLING EXPERIENCES FOR A CHIEF
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TO BE ABLE TO COME TO THESE GRADUATIONS, UH, AND TALK TO YOU ALL AND TALK TO YOUR FAMILIES AND, AND LEARN ABOUT YOU ALL.UM, AND THE GREAT REMARKS THAT WERE JUST MADE.
AND, AND IT, IT TRULY IS JUST SUCH AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE THAT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN THROUGH OVER THE, THE PAST EIGHT WEEKS.
BEFORE I GO ANY FURTHER, I DO ALSO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I PAUSE AND I ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK, UH, THE MANY, MANY, UH, DIGNITARIES THAT ARE HERE.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
AND THANK YOU FOR, FOR BEING HERE TODAY, A REPRESENTATIVE, UH, UH, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER FORTUNE, REPRESENTING THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE.
UM, AND I KNOW THAT THERE WERE MANY, MANY OTHERS THAT WANTED TO BE HERE, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, UH, COULD NOT JOIN US DUE TO, UH, DUE TO OTHER THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON AT CITY HALL RIGHT NOW.
UM, BUT THEY'VE ALL ASKED ME TO EXTEND MY CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU.
UM, I ALSO WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, DR.
MARK ESCOT, OUR MEDICAL DIRECTOR, CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN, WHO IS HERE JOINING US TODAY.
AND WE'LL BE UP HERE ON STAGE WITH US IN JUST A FEW MINUTES.
IT, YOU KNOW, I MENTIONED THE, THE PAST EIGHT WEEKS.
UM, AND WHAT AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE, UH, IT HAS BEEN FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
AND I, I LOOK BACK ON MY EXPERIENCE IN EMS AND I THINK BACK TO THE FIRST FOLKS THAT, THAT I SPENT TIME WITH WHEN I STARTED IN THIS CAREER ALMOST 30 YEARS AGO.
UM, AND THOSE ARE BONDS THAT WILL STICK WITH YOU FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS.
I STILL WAS JUST TEXTING THE OTHER DAY WITH MY FIRST EMT PARTNER FROM 1997, UM, AND TALKING ABOUT, UH, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON IN EACH OF OUR LIVES AND WITH OUR FAMILIES.
BUT WHEN YOU LOOK BACK ON THE PAST FEW WEEKS THAT YOU'VE EXPERIENCED, UM, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WOULD BE KIDDING TO TO SAY IT WAS EIGHT LONG WEEKS, WASN'T IT? RIGHT? AND I'M SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, AS YOU WALKED THROUGH THE DOOR EACH AND EVERY DAY AND YOU THOUGHT ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCES, THAT THERE WERE MOMENTS IN TIME OVER THAT EIGHT WEEKS THAT YOU THOUGHT TO YOURSELF AND SAID, MAYBE THIS ISN'T FOR ME.
UM, AND YET EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, YOU PERSEVERED AND YOU CONTINUED AND YOU CAME TO THE ACADEMY AND YOU, YOU TACKLED THOSE, THOSE FEARS, THOSE CHALLENGES YOU HAVE.
UM, ALL OF THE DIFFERENT THINGS YOU GOT BEHIND THE V THE, THE WHEEL OF THOSE GIANT AMBULANCES, RIGHT? ALL THOSE EXPERIENCES THAT YOU HAVE.
UM, AND YOU HAD OTHER OPTIONS.
YOU KNOW, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE, A CAREER IN EMS, UM, IT'S NOT THE MOST GLAMOROUS, RIGHT? AND, UM, THERE WERE OTHER THINGS THAT YOU COULD DO.
AND THERE'S OTHER JOBS WHICH, UM, WILL, YOU KNOW, MAKE YOU MORE MONEY OR, OR BE MORE PRESTIGIOUS OR BE OUT THERE MORE.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, UH, YOU'RE HERE 'CAUSE YOU CARE AND YOU'RE HERE BECAUSE YOU HAVE A CALLING FOR PUBLIC SERVICE.
UM, AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU ALL SHOULD BE SO PROUD OF.
I ALSO LOOK OUT HERE, AND I I I, I LOOK AMONGST ALL OF THE CADETS AND I THINK BACK ON, ON OTHER CLASSES, YOU KNOW, THE DIVERSITY THAT WE HAVE HERE, THE DIVERSITY OF EXPERIENCE THAT YOU ALL BRING.
SOME OF YOU ARE LOCAL, SOME OF YOU COME FROM FAR AWAY.
SOME OF YOU ARE NEW TO EMS, SOME OF YOU HAVE HAD MANY YEARS IN EMS. SOME OF YOU ARE ARE YOUNG IN YOUR CAREER AND OTHERS ARE MAKING A TRANSITION.
UM, AND TO HAVE THAT COMING INTO OUR ORGANIZATION IS, IS PART OF WHAT MAKES US SO, UH, UNIQUE AS AN ORGANIZATION.
AND OF COURSE, I ALSO WON'T LOSE SIGHT OF THE FACT THAT SOMEHOW WE GOT 38 PEOPLE TO START AN ACADEMY CLASS IN JULY IN AUSTIN.
AND IT REALLY DOES, AGAIN, SAY SO MUCH ABOUT, ABOUT YOU AND YOUR CHARACTER AND, AND WHO YOU ARE.
COMMANDER TER MENTIONED, UM, EARLIER THAT THIS IS THE 25TH YEAR, OR OUR 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF NINE 11.
UM, AND FOR SO MANY INDIVIDUALS IN, UM, IN THIS INDUSTRY WAS TRULY A TURNING POINT FOR, UM, NOT FOR THE INDUSTRY, BUT FOR HOW EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US APPROACH THINGS.
UM, AND WHILE THAT'S A ONCE IN A GENERATION OR ONCE IN A LIFETIME EXPERIENCE OR, OR OCCURRENCE, THAT THAT FOLKS WILL HAVE IT, IT PROBABLY NOT EVEN ONCE IN A LIFETIME, ONCE IN A ONCE IN A, WE HOPE NEVER AGAIN.
BUT WHEN I LOOK BACK ON THIS PAST YEAR, YEAR AND A HALF HERE IN AUSTIN, I WOULD BE REMISS TO REALLY NOT TO, TO NOT MENTION JUST THE AMOUNT OF TRAGEDY AND TURMOIL THAT WE HAVE SEEN, UH, HERE IN AUSTIN AND IN CENTRAL TEXAS GOING BACK TO THE JULY 4TH FLOODS.
UM, THE SHOOTING AT BUFORD'S AND OTHER INCIDENTS AND RECOGNIZING THAT THOSE THINGS ARE ABSOLUTELY LIFE CHANGING.
AND FOR EACH AND EACH OF YOU, YOU KNOW, TO BE JOINING AN ORGANIZATION, UM, KNOWING THAT THOSE THINGS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN.
THAT THOSE ARE NOT ONCE IN A GENERATION THINGS, UNFORTUNATELY.
UM, AND YOU STILL ARE DEDICATED TO REALLY MOVING FORWARD, MAKING A CAREER OUT OF THIS AND, AND NOT JUST DOING IT FOR YOURSELVES,
[00:35:01]
BUT DOING IT FOR THE COMMUNITY AND THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE IN THIS ROOM TO BE ABLE TO, TO BE THERE TO SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY AND PROVIDE THEM WITH THESE ABSOLUTELY AMAZING SERVICES.I MENTIONED OTHER OPTIONS THAT YOU ALL HAVE AND, UM, I'M SURE THAT YOU THOUGHT ABOUT OTHER THINGS.
I'M SURE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT BEING A FIREFIGHTER.
I'M SURE THAT YOU THOUGHT ABOUT BEING A POLICE OFFICER OR A NURSE OR A DOCTOR OR PHYSICIAN.
THERE ARE ANY OF THESE OTHER THINGS THAT, THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT COME TO YOU.
BUT I KNOW WHEN I THINK FOR MYSELF WHY I MADE A CAREER OUT OF EMS, THERE'S JUST SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT IT.
AND I HOPE THAT YOU SHARE THAT FEELING WITH ME.
AND I KNOW THAT YOU DO IN TALKING TO YOU ALL THAT, YOU KNOW, EMS IS DIFFERENT.
AND AS, AS I'VE SAID MANY TIMES, AND THERE'LL BE FOLKS IN UNIFORM THAT'LL LAUGH 'CAUSE I SAY THIS ALL THE TIME, BUT EMS IS LIKE A TRIANGLE.
IT REALLY IS, RIGHT? IT'S ONE PART PUBLIC SAFETY, IT'S ONE PART HEALTHCARE, AND IT'S ONE PART PUBLIC HEALTH.
AND WHILE THAT SOUNDS ACADEMIC, WHEN YOU REALLY BOIL IT DOWN AND YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT MADE YOU ALL COME HERE TODAY, WHAT MADE ME JOIN THIS INDUSTRY AND ALL THE, MY COLLEAGUES HERE, YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE IS SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT BEING ABLE TO SPEAK EACH OF THOSE LANGUAGES SO THAT WHEN YOU COME TO WORK AND YOU'VE, YOU'RE YOU, ONE DAY, YOU'RE PERFORMING PUBLIC SAFETY, WE'RE, YOU KNOW, JOINING OUR RESCUE TEAM AND OTHER, YOU KNOW, OTHER RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE, AND YOU'RE OUT THERE AND YOU'RE, UM, HELPING THE PUBLIC AND YOU'RE SECURING SCENES AND YOU'RE MOVING THINGS FORWARD AND TWO HOURS LATER, OR EVEN ON THAT SAME CALL, YOU'RE PROVIDING HEALTHCARE, RIGHT? AND YOU'RE GETTING THAT, THAT FEELING OF BEING THERE, OF STARTING THAT IV, INTUBATING THAT PATIENT, PROVIDING THE CARE, WATCHING THEM AS THEY, YOU KNOW, AS THEY GET BETTER IN FRONT OF YOU BECAUSE OF THE SKILLS THAT YOU HAVE AND THE MEDICATIONS THAT YOU'RE ADMINISTERING AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
AND THEN ON OTHER DAYS, YOU'RE OUT THERE AND YOU'RE RECOGNIZING THAT THE THINGS THAT WE DO DON'T JUST AFFECT ONE PATIENT, WHETHER IT'S, YOU KNOW, A WEEK AGO OR LA A COUPLE YEARS AGO, WHEN WE SEE THINGS LIKE YOU OUT, OUT IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE MAYBE THERE IS A, UH, A BAD BATCH OF DRUGS THAT ARE OUT THERE AND YOU'RE SEEING HOW THAT'S AFFECTING THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE AND AS A DEPARTMENT AND AS A RESOURCE, YOU ARE OUT THERE AND YOU'RE RESPONDING TO THAT HOLISTICALLY, NOT JUST THE ONE PATIENT, BUT HOW DO WE IMPROVE THE WHOLE COMMUNITY? AND SO HAVING THAT ABILITY TO TRANSLATE, HAVING THAT ABILITY TO DO ALL OF THOSE THINGS AT ONCE, I THINK IS WHAT MAKES US SO PASSIONATE ABOUT IT.
BUT IT'S ALSO WHAT MAKES YOU ALL SUCH A GREAT TOOL FOR THIS COMMUNITY, RIGHT? YOU SPEAK ALL OF THOSE LANGUAGES, RIGHT? YOU ARE ABLE TO, AS I SAY, SPEAK FIREFIGHTER, RIGHT? YOU'RE ABLE TO SPEAK POLICE OFFICER, YOU'RE ABLE TO SPEAK DOCTOR, YOU'RE ABLE TO SPEAK RIGHT? ABOUT PROCESSES OF DISEASE.
YOU HAVE ALL THOSE SKILLS AND TO HAVE YOU HERE AND OUT IN THE COMMUNITY BEING ABLE TO DO THAT SO THAT ON ONE DAY YOU MAY BE EXPLAINING TO A PHYSICIAN THAT YOU'RE DELIVERING A PATIENT TO THE COMPLEXITY OF WHAT YOU JUST SAW.
AND THEN SPEAKING TO A POLICE OFFICER WHO HAS NO MEDICAL BACKGROUND TO GIVE THEM THE BACKGROUND OF WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT PATIENT SO THEY CAN COMPLETE AN INVESTIGATION, RIGHT? THAT'S A UNIQUE TALENT THAT YOU ALL NOW HAVE GOING INTO THE COMMUNITY AND YOU WILL SEE BEING UTILIZED ON A REGULAR BASIS.
NOW, THE OTHER THING THAT REALLY EXCITES ME ABOUT BEING AN EMS IS THAT WE'RE YOUNG, RIGHT? WE'RE CELEBRATING THIS YEAR, 2026, THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY EMS 1976.
THIS, THIS ORGANIZATION WAS FOUNDED AND BEFORE THAT, RIGHT? PEOPLE WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL IN HEARSES, RIGHT? BY THE LOCAL FUNERAL HOMES, RIGHT? THAT'S HOW IT WAS DONE, RIGHT UP THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE, THE 20TH CENTURY.
AND HERE WE ARE WITH THIS TOP NOTCH CARE THAT WE PROVIDE, BUT THAT'S DIFFERENT, RIGHT? OUR COLLEAGUES IN THE FIRE SERVICE, OUR COLLEAGUES IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, OUR COLLEAGUES IN MEDICINE HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR CENTURIES.
AND IN THE CASE OF MEDICINE FOR MILLENNIA, RIGHT? AND HERE WE ARE 50 YEARS IN AND WE'RE KIND OF FIGURING OUT HOW TO, HOW TO DO THIS AS WE GO ALONG.
WHAT DO THEY SAY? WE'RE BUILDING THE PLANE AS WE FLY IT, RIGHT? AND THAT'S ONE OF THE COOLEST THINGS ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO JOIN IS THAT WHAT YOUR EMS EXPERIENCE IS TODAY MAY BE TOTALLY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT YOUR EMS EXPERIENCE IS 5, 10, 15, 20 YEARS FROM NOW.
I CAN TELL YOU, AS I SAID, I STARTED IN THIS INDUSTRY 1996, AND WHEN I LOOK BACK, THE IDEA THAT WE WOULD BE DOING HALF OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO TODAY IS JUST UNFATHOMABLE.
ASK ANYONE IN THIS INDUSTRY, EVEN FIVE OR 10 YEARS AGO, IF YOU WOULD
[00:40:01]
THINK THAT WE WOULD HAVE MULTIPLE UNITS OF WHOLE BLOOD CRISSCROSSING THIS CITY IN THIS COUNTY PROVIDING THOUSANDS OF PATIENTS A NEW OPPORTUNITY IN LIFE THAT WAS UNTHINKABLE, BUT WE'RE DOING IT AS WE GO ALONG, RIGHT? AND WE'RE CHANGING AND ADAPTING THAT WE WOULD HAVE COMMUNITY HEALTH PARAMEDICS THAT ARE OUT THERE GETTING AHEAD OF THE 9 1 1 CALLS, REDUCING THE WORKLOAD IN THE EMS SYSTEM BY RECOGNIZING AND PREDICTING WHEN PEOPLE ARE GONNA CALL 9 1 1, RIGHT? THAT'S NOT HOW WE USED TO DO THINGS.THAT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT WAY OF THINKING ABOUT WHAT EMS IS, AND YOU NOW HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHAPE THAT WAS SAID EARLIER, I TRULY BELIEVE THAT AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY EMS IS ONE OF THE ABSOLUTE PREMIER EMS AGENCIES IN THE WORLD, IF NOT THE BEST, WHICH I'LL SAY IT'S THE BEST.
SOME MIGHT DISAGREE WITH ME, BUT CERTAINLY RIGHT UP THERE.
AND IT'S JUST SO AMAZING TO BE HERE TO HAVE YOU JOINING THIS WONDERFUL ORGANIZATION.
AND WHEN I SAY THAT ABOUT IT BEING THE BEST ORGANIZATION, THAT'S NOT BECAUSE OF ME, RIGHT? THAT'S NOT BECAUSE OF MY COLLEAGUES SITTING IN THE FRONT ROWS HERE, RIGHT? IT IS A COMBINATION OF THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU ALL DO AND ALL OF THE FRONTLINE EMTS AND PARAMEDICS AND STAFF THAT ARE OUT THERE DRIVING PAST US RIGHT NOW, RIGHT? IT IS A COMBINATION OF ALL OF THAT WORK, BUT ALSO A TESTAMENT TO THE LEADERS IN THIS COMMUNITY, TO OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS, TO OUR MAYOR, TO OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, TO OUR COMMISSIONERS, RIGHT? THAT THEY'RE WILLING TO DEDICATE THEM SO MANY RESOURCES AND SO MUCH OF THEIR TIME AND ENERGY TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THIS THE BEST EMS SYSTEM IN THE COUNTRY.
THERE ARE PLACES IN THIS COUNTRY, THERE ARE PLACES IN THIS WORLD, WE'RE ALL JOKINGLY SAYING, I BET THERE ARE ELECTED OF FOLKS THAT CAN'T SPELL EMS, RIGHT? THAT DON'T KNOW WHAT IT REALLY IS AND WHAT IT BRINGS TO THE TABLE, BUT THAT'S NOT AUSTIN, RIGHT? AND AS, AS MUCH AS I MAY GET TIRED, AND WE MAY GET TIRED ON SOME DAYS WITH THE QUESTIONS THAT WE GET, JUST LIKE YOU GET FROM YOUR, THE, THE CADRE, RIGHT? TO HAVE A GROUP OF LEADERS IN THIS CITY THAT ARE SO ENGAGED AND WANT TO KNOW ABOUT EMS AND HOW WE CAN MAKE IT BETTER IS THE MOST AMAZING FEELING AS AN EMS CHIEF.
AND THAT'S WHAT ALLOWS US TO BE ABLE TO FOCUS ON INNOVATION, TO BE ABLE TO COLLABORATE, TO GET THE LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE THAT WE HAVE, AND TO PROVIDE YOU WITH THE TOOLS YOU NEED TO BE ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE CLINICIANS.
AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO AND WHAT WE NEED TO COMMIT TO IS TO CONTINUE TO GIVE YOU THE RESOURCES THAT YOU NEED.
YOU'VE HAD A CHANCE TO, OOPS, YOU'VE HAD A CHANCE TO MEET WITH OUR WELLNESS TEAMS AND WORK WITH THEM THROUGH THE ACADEMY.
USE THEM AS A RESOURCE AS YOU MOVE FORWARD, RIGHT? WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE EVERYTHING THAT YOU NEED TO MAKE A SUCCESSFUL CAREER OUT OF BEING AN AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY EMS MEDIC HERE IN AUSTIN.
WE REALLY STRIVE TO BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF EMS, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT WITH THE SUPPORT THAT WE HAVE FROM OUR LEADERSHIP THROUGH THE GREAT WORK THAT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU DO, RIGHT? AND TO GIVE YOU OPPORTUNITIES, RIGHT? TO EXPLORE YOUR CAREERS THROUGH THE VARIOUS SPECIALTY PROGRAMS THAT ARE TRULY MOVING THE NEEDLE IN OUR COMMUNITY, UNLIKE ELSEWHERE, WHETHER IT'S OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH PROGRAM, OUR SPECIAL OPERATIONS TEAM, OUR RECOGNIZED COMMUNICATIONS CENTER, OUR SPECIAL EVENT TEAMS. THESE ARE ALL GROUPS OF INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE LEVELS OF EXPERTISE THAT ARE UNPARALLELED IN THIS COUNTRY.
AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON AND ON.
FOR MANY OF YOU, YOUR LOCAL AUSTINITES, YOU'RE HERE FROM TEXAS, BUT IT'S NOT ALWAYS LIKE THAT.
WE HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS THAT ARE JOINING US FROM, FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, AND I KNOW THAT SOME OF YOU ARE AS WELL.
AND WE SAY HERE THAT AUSTIN IS A BEACON FOR OUR INDUSTRY, RIGHT? THE CUTTING EDGE MEDICINE, THE DIVERSITY OF OPPORTUNITIES, OUR SINGLE, UH, DELIVERY MODEL THAT WE HAVE HERE AND THE SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY WE HAVE.
BUT AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY EMS IS A BEACON FOR MORE THAN JUST OUR INDUSTRY, RIGHT? MORE THAN JUST THE GREAT MEDICINE.
IT'S A BEACON THAT SAYS THAT YOU ARE WELCOME IN AUSTIN NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE, RIGHT? AND WE ARE EXCITED TO HAVE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU HERE.
IT'S A GREAT TIME TO BE JOINING AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY EMS. WE ARE SEEING EXPONENTIAL GROWTH IN OUR COMMUNITY AND SURROUNDING AREAS, RIGHT? WE ARE CONTINUING TO INNOVATE, BUT WITH THAT WE FACE CHALLENGES.
THERE WILL BE CHALLENGES AHEAD OF US.
WE FACE THEM TODAY, WE FACE THEM OVER THE PAST YEAR AND WE WILL FACE THEM TOMORROW AND BEYOND.
BUT I KNOW THAT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU WILL HELP US RISE TO THAT CHALLENGE BECAUSE YOU'RE PASSIONATE INDIVIDUALS, YOU ARE SELFLESS AND YOU ARE DEDICATED TO YOUR PROFESSION.
AND EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU IS READY TO TAKE ON THE NEXT CHALLENGE.
WHEN I THINK ABOUT WHAT KIND OF AN EMS
[00:45:01]
SYSTEM I WOULD WANT TO JOIN, I IMAGINE A FEW THINGS.AND I SAY IMAGINE AN EMS SYSTEM WHERE WE SEEK TO KEEP PEOPLE OUT OF THE HOSPITAL INSTEAD OF TAKING THEM TO THE HOSPITAL.
IMAGINE AN EMS SYSTEM WHERE WE'RE FOCUSED ON INJURY AND ILLNESS PREVENTION INSTEAD OF TREATING THEM AFTER THEY'VE BEEN HURT OR GOT SICK.
IMAGINE AN EMS SYSTEM WHERE OUR HOSPITAL COLLEAGUES RESPECT US AND WE, WE ARE INCLUDED IN THEIR PROCESSES AS PART OF AN INTEGRATED HEALTH SYSTEM.
IMAGINE AN EMS SYSTEM WHERE WE'RE FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELLBEING.
AND IMAGINE AN EMS SYSTEM WHERE WE INVEST IN PREPAREDNESS FOR WHATEVER MAY COME NEXT.
AND WHAT I'LL TELL YOU IS TO STOP IMAGINING BECAUSE WE ARE SO PROUD TO HAVE YOU JOINING US HERE AT AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY EMS. WE DO THAT THROUGH THE GREAT WORK THAT EACH YOU WANT TO U EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU IS GOING TO BE DOING.
BUT ALSO THROUGH THE GREAT WORK OF ALL OF OUR STAFF HERE, THE MORE THAN 600 EMTS, PARAMEDICS AND ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF COMMUNICATION MEDICS, RIGHT? WE WILL CONTINUE TO RISE TO THE CHALLENGE, NOT BECAUSE OF ME, BUT BECAUSE OF YOU AND EVERYONE ON OUR TEAM.
AND WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE OVER 1 MILLION, NEARLY ONE AND A HALF MILLION RESIDENTS OF BOSTON AND TRAVIS COUNTY THAT WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK OUT FOR YOU AND PROVIDE YOU THE SUPPORT THAT YOU NEED.
WE ARE INVESTED IN YOUR SUCCESS, RIGHT? I ENCOURAGE YOU, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES AHEAD OF YOU HERE AT AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY EMS. THINK OF WHAT YOUR FUTURE MAY LOOK LIKE, BECAUSE AS MUCH AS PROUD AS I AM TO BE HERE, THERE WILL BE A DAY WHEN I'M NOT STANDING UP HERE AND THERE WILL BE A DAY WHEN THE FOLKS IN THESE FRONT TWO ROWS ARE NO LONGER HERE.
AND I HOPE THAT IT WILL BE ONE OF YOU ALL THAT IS STANDING UP AT THIS PODIUM.
THINK ABOUT WHAT YOUR FU FUTURE IN AUSTIN LOOKS LIKE.
THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT TO DO NEXT.
AND REMEMBER, YOU CAN DO THAT.
YOU ARE THE FUTURE AND I CAN CONGRATULATE YOU.
I DO BEFORE I CLOSE, WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I THANK NOT JUST YOU ALL WHO'VE ABSOLUTELY DONE TREMENDOUS WORK OVER THE PAST EIGHT WEEKS, BUT ALSO EVERYONE ELSE IN THIS ROOM, ALL OF THE FOLKS THAT ARE SITTING BEHIND YOU, YOUR FAMILY, YOUR FRIENDS, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING THESE INDIVIDUALS INTO SERVICE.
WE KNOW THAT THEY'RE GIVING UP NIGHTS AND WEEKENDS AND OTHER FAMILY EVENTS, BUT THEY ARE JOINING A NOBLE CAUSE.
AND OF COURSE, A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THE ACADEMY STAFF.
YOU DO AMAZING WORK AND YOU DO IT ALL TOO OFTEN UNDER THE RADAR, RIGHT? THE WORK THAT YOU DO ISN'T JUST ABOUT THOSE EIGHT WEEKS.
THE WORK THAT YOU DO IS SHAPING THE FUTURE OF THIS DEPARTMENT.
AS YOU TOUCH AND YOU TEACH AND YOU MENTOR EVERY SINGLE NEW INDIVIDUAL IN THIS DEPARTMENT, I COMMEND YOU ALL FOR THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU DO.
AND OF COURSE, TO THANK ALL OF THE AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY EMS STAFF THAT ARE HERE TODAY, IT IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING TO BE YOUR CHIEF.
I AM SO HUMBLED EACH AND EVERY DAY.
UH, I'M SO PROUD OF WHAT YOU ALL DO, AND I JUST CAN'T STOP SAYING ENOUGH GREAT THINGS, WHICH IS WHY YOU ALL WANT ME TO GET OFF THE STAGE RIGHT NOW,
YOU CONTINUE TO AMAZE ME EACH AND EVERY DAY.
AND WITH THAT, AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS AND WELCOME TO THE FAMILY.
IT IS NOW TIME FOR THE PINNING OF BADGES AND PRESENTATION OF CERTIFICATES AND STETHOSCOPES WITH THE MEMBERS OF THE A-T-C-E-M-S EXECUTIVE TEAM AND OFFICE OF THE CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER WHO ARE PRESENTING AS WELL AS OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE WITH US TODAY.
PLEASE FOR THE PRESENTATION OF THE BADGES, THE BADGES YOU RECEIVE TODAY REPRESENT YOUR OATH TO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY WITH INTEGRITY AND COURAGE.
AND IT IS A REMINDER OF THAT COMMITMENT THAT YOU'VE DISPLAYED SO FAR, BOTH IN AND OUT OF UNIFORM.
THE STETHOSCOPES YOU RECEIVE IS A TOOL OF OUR PROFESSION, BUT ITS PURPOSE IS TO CONNECT YOU TO WHAT LIES BENEATH THE HEARTBEAT OF YOUR PATIENTS AND THE PULSE OF THE COMMUNITY.
IT REMINDS US THAT EMS IS NOT ONLY ABOUT SKILL, BUT IT'S ABOUT PASSION AND LISTENING AND TRULY CARING FOR THE LIVES AND COMMUNITY WE SERVE.
WORN TOGETHER YOUR BADGE AND STETHOSCOPE, COMPLETE THE PICTURE OF AN A-T-C-E-M-S PROFESSIONAL.
THE BADGE CALLS YOU TO DUTY AND THE STETHOSCOPE CALLS YOU TO HUMANITY.
AND TOGETHER THEY REPRESENT THE TRUST THIS COMMUNITY HAS PLACED IN YOU.
[00:50:14]
CHRIS ACOSTA, WE BEING ACCOMPANIED BY HIS SPOUSE, ANNA HIR IRAN, ACCOMPANIED BY HER MOUTH, HER MOTHER THOMAS STEIN, ACCOMPANIED BY HIS AUNT DEBORAH.CONGRATULATIONS, JACK BARR, ACCOMPANIED BY FATHER PATRICK.
NOW WOULDN'T BE A PRESENTATION WITHOUT SOME IT ISSUES.
LET'S GET THESE FINE FACES BACK UP ON THE SCREEN.
LET, IT'S PROBABLY A CITY OF AUSTIN.
UH, FOREST SOFTWARE UPDATE, LUNA BARONES, ACCOMPANIED BY FATHER OSCAR AND FAMILY.
CHRISTINA BURTENSHAW, ACCOMPANIED BY HER MOTHER, VALERIE, CONGRATULATIONS.
ALEXANDRA BILI, ACCOMPANIED BY HER PARTNER, JOSHUA AIRE.
ZANE BISCO, ACCOMPANIED BY HIS GIRLFRIEND, PRESSLEY
[00:55:02]
JOHN BLUMEN, SHINE, ACCOMPANIED BY CADRE CAPTAIN KLU, ALISON BUTLER, ACCOMPANIED BY HER BEST FRIEND, EMILY ELIZABETH CHEKA, ACCOMPANIED BY CADRE, FTO, WESTBY, ASHLYN CLUFF, ACCOMPANIED BY HER SPOUSE, KAYLEE AND FAMILY.ISAAC COLLINS, ACCOMPANIED BY CADRE CAPTAIN HOWELL.
ZACH CONARD, ACCOMPANIED BY HIS FATHER, JORDAN CONARD.
WHITNEY COOPER, ACCOMPANIED BY HER FRIEND, BRANDON GRIFFITH.
MICHAELA CHOR, ACCOMPANIED BY HER FATHER, UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS MAJOR STEVEN AND FAMILY.
ALYSSA ESTE PINION, ACCOMPANIED BY HER BEST FRIEND, FRIEND TIMOTHY.
ALEX FOX, ACCOMPANIED BY HIS SPOUSE, EMILY FOX.
[01:00:04]
MM-HMMMCCADE FREEMAN, ACCOMPANIED BY HIS SISTER, PEARL CASEY GARCIA, ACCOMPANIED BY HER FRIEND, CORPUS CHRISTI, FIREFIGHTER AND PARAMEDIC.
WELL MARCOS GONZALEZ, ACCOMPANIED BY HIS SPOUSE, ERICA AND THEIR CHILDREN.
CONGRATULATIONS, ADOLF HERNANDEZ JR.
ACCOMPANIED BY HIS DAUGHTER, OLIVIA CINA CONRADI, ACCOMPANIED BY HER FATHER, BY DEAN CONTI AND FAMILY, REMY MANASCO, ACCOMPANIED BY HIS GIRLFRIEND SHANNON AND FRIEND TRACY.
GUNNER MARTIN, ACCOMPANIED BY HIS GRANDFATHER, WILTY CRESTWELL, STEVEN MILLER, ACCOMPANIED BY HIS SPOUSE, REBECCA AND CHILD
[01:05:30]
COLE POLLIS, ACCOMPANIED BY HIS PARENTS, TIMOTHY AND JULIE KAYLEE ROWLAND, ACCOMPANIED BY HER FATHER, CHARLES LOPEZ.DEPRO SARKAR, ACCOMPANIED BY CADRE, FTO, ROBERT ACCO.
SHELBY SCHULTZ, ACCOMPANIED BY HER PARENTS, KELLY AND SCOTT, I JACKSON SMITHERS, ACCOMPANIED BY HIS GIRLFRIEND, JENNIFER AUTUMN SPARKS ACCOMPANIED BY HER FATHER, BRIGADIER GENERAL IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY.
KARINA TANNI, ACCOMPANIED BY HER BROTHER AJ JESSICA FAVA, ACCOMPANIED BY HER FATHER, JACQUE
[01:10:28]
EDWARD.WEEKS ACCOMPANIED BY HIS MOTHER, MARIA.
CONGRATULATIONS BRANDY WILLIAMS, ACCOMPANIED BY HER HUSBAND DAVID.
EVELYN WILLIAMS, ACCOMPANIED BY HER GRANDFATHER, CAPTAIN US ARMY.
JIM WILLIAMS, SENIOR LAURA WOOTEN, ACCOMPANIED BY HER FATHER, FIREFIGHTER AND PARAMEDIC FOR 45 YEARS.
CAPTAIN HAROLD BUTCH KELAN AND FAMILY.
PLEASE STAND FOR THE OATH OF SERVICE ADMINISTERED BY CHIEF LUC CADETS.
I'M NOT THAT TALL CADETS, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AS A PROVIDER WITH AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY EMS DO YOU SOLEMNLY SWEAR TO THE FOLLOWING, TO HONOR OUR CODE OF CONDUCT, RESPECT OUR COMMUNITY, YOUR NEIGHBORS, AND YOURSELF TO CONSERVE LIFE, ALLEVIATE SUFFERING, PROMOTE HEALTH, AND DO NO HARM TO TREAT EVERY PATIENT'S NEEDS INDIVIDUALLY IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THE BEST POSSIBLE OUTCOME
[01:15:01]
TO UPHOLD HIGH STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE AND EDUCATION.DO YOU ALSO SWEAR TO CHANGE THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE YOU SERVE? BY EMBRACING AND FOSTERING AN EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR EVERYONE YOU ENCOUNTER? TO ALWAYS VIEW YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE OTHERS AS A PRIVILEGE AND AN HONOR, AND TO PROUDLY REPRESENT THE BEST EMS SYSTEM IN THE COUNTRY THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREER.
CHIEF PESA, THEN BY MY AUTHORITY AS CHIEF OF EMSI NOW CERTIFY THAT YOU ARE OFFICIALLY AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY EMS, MEDICS AND CLINICAL SPECIALISTS.
LOOK, WE NOW HAVE A VIDEO PRESENTATION FOR YOU TO ENJOY SOME HIGHLIGHTS OVER THE LAST EIGHT WEEKS.
NOW ON DO NOT LET HIM HAVE ANYTHING TO EAT OR DRINK.
IT MIGHT MAKE HIM SICK CAUSE FURTHER PROBLEMS. DON'T MOVE HIM UNLESS IT'S ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.
JUST TELL HIM TO BE STILL AND WAIT FOR THE HELP TO ARRIVE.
[01:20:27]
HI, I AM CHRISTINA BURTENSHAW OF CLASS 0 7 2 6.HI, I'M JACK SMITHERS OF CLASS OH 7 2 6.
HI, MY NAME IS ISAAC COLLINS OF CLASS OH 7 2 6.
HI, I'M CORINA TANIS OF CLASS OH 7 2 6.
HI, I'M MCCADE FREEMAN OF CLASS OH 7 2 6.
HI, MY NAME IS MARCUS GONZALEZ OF CLASS OH 7 2 6.
HI, I'M WHITNEY COOPER OF CLASS 0 7 2 6.
HI, I'M MILLER OF CLASS 0 7 2 6.
I'M JAMIE WILLIAMS OF CLASS 0 7 2 6.
I'M JEFF BALL OF CLASS OH 7 2 6 ICCA OF CLASS OH 7 2 6.
I'M MANAS CLASS OF 0 7 2 6 OF CLASS OH 7 2 6.
HI, I'M COLE OF CLASS OH 7 2 6.
HI, I'M LAURA OF CLASS OH 7 2 6.
HI, I'M CASEY GARCIA ESPARZA, CLASS OF OH 7 2 6.
HI, MY NAME'S ALYSSA OPINION CLASS OF OH 7 2 6.
HI, I'M SARKAR OF CLASS OH 7 2 6.
HI, I'M THOMAS STEIN, CLASS OH 7 2 6.
HI, I'M ALEXANDRA OF CLASS OH 7 2 6.
HI, I'M FEDER OF CLASS OH 7 2 6.
HI, I'M JOHN BLOOM, ANDINA CLASS OH 7 2 6.
HI, I'M FOX OF CLASS OH 7 2 6.
HI, MY NAME IS EVELYN WILLIAMS OF CLASS OH 7 2 6.
HI, MY NAME IS CHRISTOPHER OSA OF CLASS OH 7 2 6.
HI, MY NAME IS KATIE ROWLAND OF CLASS OH 7 2 6.
I'M AUTUMN SPARKS OF CLASS OH 7 2 6.
MY NAME IS ASHLYN CL OF CLASS OH 7 2 6 CLASS 0 7 2 6 OF CLASS SEVEN.
THIS CONCLUDES TODAY'S CEREMONY.
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR ATTENDING AND FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF OUR CADETS IN AUSTIN.
TRAVIS COUNTY EMS. WE INVITE YOU TO STAY FOR SOME REFRESHMENTS IN THE BACK CORNER.
LET'S BREAK IT OUT ONE MORE TIME.