Through much of her childhood, Sarah Rondel got a close-up view of her father’s work as a paramedic.

Paul Rondel served with the Macon County EMS for more than 20 years before passing away in 2022 after a grueling bout with liver cancer.

“I was around him all the time, and he always came home in that paramedic uniform,” said the younger Rondel, who’s now a senior at Franklin High School. “The family they had at that base as a team of paramedics was always awesome. I always thought that was something special. They treated me like I was one of their own as well. It was always heartfelt for him, saving lives and making a difference. People come up to me all the time and say, ‘Your dad saved my life.’

“My mom (Tammy Nichols) is also in the medical field as an RN, so I thought about following in my parents’ footsteps and making a difference in the world if I can somehow,” she added. “Saving lives really gives me that heartfelt fulfillment.”

So when Southwestern Community College announced it would offer an Emergency Medical Technician pathway at Franklin High this past fall, Rondel was elated.

“I was like a little kid in a candy store, excited,” she recalled. “It was offered not too long after my father died. I was like, ‘Wow, this is really awesome, an opportunity to follow in his footsteps.’ I was just ready to get started. I was excited for clinicals and what the class had to offer.”

Walking across the same stage on which they’ll one day receive their college degrees, seventh-graders from Jackson, Macon, and Swain Counties were inducted into the New Century Scholars program on Thursday, Nov. 16, in Myers Auditorium on Southwestern Community College’s Jackson Campus.

Made possible entirely by the generosity of private donors, the New Century Scholars program guarantees support and last-dollar tuition assistance to a total of 30 inductees this year (10 from each county).

Established in 1995 by the late Dr. Charles McConnell, who was superintendent of Jackson County Schools, and then-SCC President Dr. Barry Russell, New Century Scholars is designed to improve academic readiness, bolster student persistence toward high school graduation, and increase the college attendance rate.

More than 2,500 students have been inducted into the program over the years.

For more information about the program and how to support it, visit www.SouthwesternCC.edu/new-century-scholars.

Jackson County Students are, front row, from left: Blaze Gunter and Verity Dobbs. Middle row, from left: Zaiden Johnson, Hannah Heatherly and Allison Garcia. Back row, from left: Dominik Alcantar, Noe Cruz and Ahlexis Coggins. Not pictured: Kayna Carey and Wynter Lemke.

Macon County students are, front row, from left: Cylah Priest and Faith Lefebvre. Middle row, from left: Cheyenne Plemmons and Natalie Orr. Back row, from left: Britany Murguia, Isabella Lopez and Williams Alvarez Mendoza. Not pictured: Keeley Bosdell, Mary Jane Harrison and Cherry Jones.

Swain County students are, front row, from left: Colbee Phillips, Izabella Ponton and Clayton Beaver. Middle row, from left: Maddie Brown, Elayna Shuler, Charleigh Loftis and Samuel Hayes. Back row, from left: Maddox Smith and Noah Barnes. Not pictured: Carter Simpson.