Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Gogebic Community College President Jim Lorenson, center, receives the keys for an ambulance donated to the college’s Allied Health program from Randy Forstrom, operations manager at Beacon Ambulance and GCC EMS instructor/coordinator. Pictured from left are Jeanne Graham, dean of students, Kelly Marczak, director of the GCC Foundation, Lorenson, Forstrom and Erik Guenard, dean of business services.
IRONWOOD TOWNSHIP — The Lawrence Kutz family and Beacon Ambulance recently donated a 1998 ambulance to the Allied Health program at Gogebic Community College.
Randy Forstrom, operations manager at Beacon Ambulance and GCC’s emergency medical services program instructor/coordinator, spearheaded the effort to procure the donation, said Kim Zeckovich, director of admissions, marketing and community relations at the college.
“When I took over the EMS coordinator position at GCC, I approached the Kutz family about donating an ambulance that was coming out of service,” said Forstrom. “All of the EMS students at GCC throughout the years have completed all of their clinicals through Beacon Ambulance.”
The ambulance has been emblazoned with the college logo to recognize its purpose as an EMS paramedic instructional unit. It’s stocked with equipment needed to treat and transport patients at basic and advanced levels, including heart monitors, intravenous equipment, oxygen and splints.
GCC offers two programs in EMS.
The first is a basic emergency medical technician program, which is two semesters long with 96 clinical hours. It enables students to sit for the National Registry licensed exam for EMTs.
The second is a paramedic program, consisting of five semesters and 1,100 hours of clinical and classroom time, culminating in an associate degree or certificate.
For more information, contact the admissions office at 906-932-4231, ext. 207.
