25 new recruits in Gwinnett County are now firefighters and paramedics following a graduation ceremony earlier this week.
The Gwinnett County Department of fire and Emergency Services announced Wednesday that 25 new recruits, along with five veterans who sought further training, endured 16-months of classroom training, paramedic clinical rotations and learning basic firefighting skills prior to their graduation on Tuesday.
Those graduating from the program along with their family and friends were joined by Fire Chief Casey Snyder, County Commission Chairman Charlotte J. Nash, District 2 Commissioner Lynette Howard, County Administrator Glenn Stephens and Deputy County Administrator Phil Hoskins as they participated in a badge pinning ritual.
”We are excited to add these personnel to an already outstanding staff,” said Snyder.
New graduates were Dane Afzali, Brian Koerner, Josiah Brownfield, Spencer Konuszewski, Sean Dudish, Aum Patel, Justin Elder, Cody Phillips, Jesse Ellis, Lesly Ramirez Godoy, Robbie Fairfield, Marc Robinson, Manny Garcia, Rich Sanchez, Zak Germaine, Brock Smith, Austin Giragos, Cameron Upchurch, Ben Grim, Courtney Weigel, Ryan Hartman, Taylor Wilde, Sean Jackson, Braden Wuerch and Michael Joseph
Veteran graduates included Dean Fritz, Josh Gary, Caleb Jordan, Josh LeBlanc and David Thrasher.
Several awards were given out as well. Sean Jackson received the Paramedic Star of Life Award; Ryan Hartman received the Fire Recruit Academic Award; Courtney Weigel received the Fire Recruit Core Values Award and the Fire Recruit Physical Fitness Award; and, Sean Dudish won the Top Rung Award.
