By Callie Jones
Journal-Advocate, Sterling, Colo.
STERLING, Colo. 鈥� Students in Northeastern Junior College鈥檚 new paramedic program now have a newly outfitted ambulance to use as part of their hands-on training thanks to a recent donation.
The NJC Foundation held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on campus Monday, July 29, to unveil the college鈥檚 new ambulance, which has been wrapped in memory of Richard Gareis, who passed away on July 29, 2023.
Born to Mary Ann (Lechman) and John George Gareis in Sterling in May of 1950, he graduated from St. Anthony鈥檚 High School in 1968 and NJC in 1970. Gareis then spent 10 years as a self-employed farmer before moving to Flatiron Companies for 12 years and eventually retiring as a realtor with Coldwell Banker after 15 years of service to his clients. He has a surviving brother, sister-in-law as well as nieces and nephews, many of which are still in the Sterling area.
Upon his death, Gareis left the NJC Foundation 10% of his estate in his will.
鈥淲hen we got the letter in the mail from Richard鈥檚 attorney we were over the moon. What an absolute honor it is that he thought of NJC for his legacy. That is something we do not take lightly. We chose to wrap an ambulance with a dedication to him because we heard in his later years he struggled with health and felt it would be a fitting program for some of this donation to support,鈥� said Mattie Haney, NJC Foundation Executive Director.
NJC is hoping to launch its new paramedic program, which will be part of its Emergency Medical Services/fire science offerings, this fall and is just waiting on a letter of review from the Committee on Accreditation for the EMS Professions, part of the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs. That letter will permit them to begin their first class as a test run.
But the ambulance is already being put to use as part of a satellite program that the Community College of Aurora is currently running on the NJC campus.
The newly wrapped ambulance, which will be appearing in Saturday鈥檚 Logan County Fair parade, will assist the college in recruiting students to its new program, a program that aims to fill a huge gap in rural communities. Haney noted that right now in many areas of Northeastern Colorado if a paramedic does not pick up an extra shift, there will be more cases where people call for an ambulance and no one shows up, which could be the difference between life and death.
EMS is an essential service that communities expect 24 hours a day seven days a week but currently for Northeastern Colorado the nearest paramedic program is 130 miles away. That鈥檚 too far for many Emergency Medical Technicians in this area to travel to get the training needed to advance up to the paramedic level, which is why some area fire departments don鈥檛 have paramedics.
NJC has already received many inquiries about the program from students in neighboring states including western Nebraska and Kansas, as Northeastern could be their closest opportunity for training.
NJC鈥檚 program will provide non-traditional education on nights and weekends to be attainable for active first responders looking to grow their careers to serve their communities as well as new, incoming students looking to get into the field.
鈥淲ith Richard鈥檚 help we are building a strong, hands-on program that provides new paramedics for an underfunded, overworked, and urgently needed workforce in our rural communities and beyond,鈥� Haney said. 鈥淢y only wish is that Richard was here with us to hear what a huge impact he has and will continue to make for Northeastern Colorado .鈥�
She noted that the ambulance wrapping is just one project that Gareis鈥� donation will fund for NJC students.
With August being National Make a Will Month, Gareis鈥� donation also serves as a good reminder to sit down and ensure you have a plan for what will happen to your money when you are no longer able to say so yourself.
Of course, you want to ensure your loved ones are taken care of, but if you reserved a small percentage for the community and organizations who impacted your life, they would have the ability to do that for future generations too, in your honor!鈥� Haney said.
Something most people don鈥檛 realize is that you are even able to write a will yourself and as long as it is notarized, which is typically a fee of $15, it will be upheld in Colorado.
鈥淣JC is a community college. We continuously strive to support the current and future needs of the community. Could you imagine the impact that we could make for our area if more alumni and community members like Richard chose to leave 10 or even 5% of their will to support us?鈥� Haney said.
The NJC Foundation has created the Plainsmen Heritage Society to honor and recognize those who made a plan to support NJC with an estate gift. This provides Northeastern with an opportunity to say 鈥渢hank you鈥� during a person鈥檚 life. The college also recognizes that some donors prefer to remain anonymous regarding a future estate gift and they will honor and respect those wishes in full.
For more information surrounding the NJC Foundation please visit .
___
(c)2024 Journal-Advocate, Sterling, Colo.
Visit Journal-Advocate, Sterling, Colo. at
Distributed by