After his teammate went into cardiac arrest on the lacrosse field, Colten knew he wanted to pursue a career that would allow him to care for those in need. Since then, he got his fire and EMS certifications and began working as a wildland firefighter. His desire to make a difference, coupled with his love of lacrosse, landed him at Penn College where he found like-minded leaders committed to transforming tomorrow.
When looking for a school, I had very strict requirements. Since the ninth grade, I always wanted to be a firefighter/paramedic, but I also wanted to play lacrosse in college. It was very important to me that I was able to get the degree I was looking for while also being able to play a sport!
My family and I did a lot of research to find a college that provided both of these to me. While looking at the colleges on my list, I found that Penn College had a program for Emergency Management and Homeland Security while also having a lacrosse team. I reached out to the lacrosse coach and the school (along with other colleges) and scheduled a college visit. After visiting the other schools and then meeting with Coach Williams at Penn College and touring the labs and classrooms, I knew this was the school I wanted to attend.
Ever since my freshman year of high school I wanted to be of service. While I was at a high school lacrosse tournament, one of my friends went into cardiac arrest on the field. We were lucky to have a paramedic as our referee, who helped resuscitate my friend and teammate. It gave me the worst feeling I've ever had, that feeling of not being able to do anything to help. Ever since then I have wanted to do something to help others. I wanted to be the hope and light in someone’s darkest moments. I thought that working as a paramedic would fulfill that desire. And after researching Penn College’s Emergency Management and Homeland Security and Paramedic Science dual degree, I believe this is the path for me to help others.
Penn College is full of valuable experiences, from the hands-on work to the time spent in lectures. But the most valuable academic experience I have gotten thus far is from all the hands-on work and real-world experiences that the program and the college offer. I had the amazing opportunity to serve as the Operations Section Chief for Penn College’s very first RotorFest. The ability to work and have the guidance of my instructors in real-life situations are helping prepare me for my future job in the emergency management profession.
It’s difficult to pick my favorite professor. Since I started at Penn College I have loved every professor I have had. I have learned an immense amount of valuable lessons from every teacher. One professor that comes straight to mind is Dr. Mark LaVoie. He was my English 111 professor my first semester at Penn College. He was a great teacher who always kept the class engaging and fun.
I am going into my 11th year of playing lacrosse. As for my favorite part of lacrosse … whacking people with a stick probably isn’t the right answer … so I’ll have to go with the speed of the game. Lacrosse is such a fast paced sport, which means there are tons of ups and downs all packed into the game. Fighting through the adversities and celebrating with teammates is my favorite part of the game.
I am from Washington State. This means it’s tough for my family to come and watch my games. My family has always been my number-one fan, so it was tough making the transition to not having them at every game. My family did have the opportunity to make it out to a couple of my games and the week my entire family was at the game, I scored my first college goal. It was amazing to have my family there for that goal.
The thing I appreciate most about my coaches is how they are always pushing, not just me, but the whole team, to be better. Our coaches help us build ourselves into hard working and successful young men through community service, commitment to our teammates, and academic awareness. As for my teammates, I appreciate them most for taking me in as one of their own. I was nervous because I came from across the country, but they took me in and have become a second family to me.
Penn College has an abundance of amazing degrees, certificates, and programs that have allowed me to shape my future career to what I want. With the instruction of the professors and the help of the people in the Center for Career Design, I have been able to discover new opportunities and job choices that I didn’t know even existed. With all the college programs that are offered and the helpful staff at Penn College, I have been able to map out a plan for my future.
Thank you! Thank you for your vested interest and support to the college. I have always wanted to attend college, but had troubles finding a school that fit me. At Penn College, I have found the perfect college.
"Penn College is full of valuable experiences, from the hands-on work to the time spent in lectures. But the most valuable academic experience I have gotten thus far is from all the hands-on work and real-world experiences that the program and the college offer."
Colten Hajicek
Colten helped plan the first-ever Rotorfest at Penn College. Serving as the event's operations section chief, he was inspired by its lasting career potential. “It’s just an excellent experience overall,” he said. “I’m a freshman, so being able to help run this with my instructor, who has helped set it up, is a great experience. This is something I could definitely use in the future.”
"From the outside Penn College is like many other colleges. But what draws you in is what the inside of the classrooms are like. They are not a lecture hall. The classrooms are a hospital, or a car wreck scene, or a natural disaster, or an autobody shop, or a restaurant, or a welding factory. They are real-world scenarios that the students must create, problem solve, and participate in."
Stephanie Hajicek
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