Welcome to Campus Round-Up, a new series of stories spotlighting the people, programs, and moments that make RCBC a vibrant place to learn and work.
From student achievements and faculty accomplishments to campus events and program highlights, this feature brings together stories that might otherwise get lost in the bustle of daily college life.
In this edition, we’re highlighting RCBC’s Paramedic Science program and the students, faculty, and experiences that are making an impact on both RCBC and the community.
Alum spotlight: Kara Ekelburg
Kara Ekelburg was an adult student when she first stepped onto the RCBC campus in 2021 to study Paramedic Science. In the years leading up to that, she focused on raising her son after retiring from her career as a police officer at the Mount Holly Township Police Department. Moving forward with her second career made sense as her son gained more independence in high school.
Although she hadn’t been in a classroom in around 20 years, Ekelburg found support in RCBC’s paramedic faculty and staff. If there were any hiccups, they helped. “We had each other’s backs,” Ekelburg said.
After graduating, Ekelburg joined Virtua Health System and serves as a paramedic in Burlington and Camden counties.
For the last three semesters, she’s picked up a role as a preceptor for current RCBC students. Virtua-sponsored students ride with her to experience real-world emergencies from an experienced professional. She mentors younger paramedics as they administer medications, start IVs, and more.
“I hope they step away from these phases with confidence,” Ekelburg said. “I hope they have the basic knowledge they need to flourish.”
In her own career, now going on three years, Ekelburg is “proud knowing I’m giving my patients my undivided attention, and I’m giving them the best care.”
Staff/faculty spotlight: Andrea Quinn
Director of Paramedic Science Andrea Quinn recently embarked on an educational journey to support the growth of the college’s program and the endeavors of its staff, faculty, and students. Her recent completion of a master’s program led her to enroll in a Ph.D. program in Health Sciences, Trauma Informed Care, after realizing the depth of need for mental health support for EMS professionals, given the field's emotional and physical demands and its extreme intensity.
Quinn also took part in the “Five Minutes to Help” program, developed by the Rutgers Center for Public Health Workforce Development. Focused on the first response to opioid overdoses, the program’s goal, as described on their website, is to “arm New Jersey responders with new knowledge and communication skills that can be applied on the scene, post-overdose reversal, to encourage patients to seek help for their addiction and increase their awareness of available recovery resources in their communities.” She is a trained and experienced facilitator for the four-hour course and has now embedded it into her Paramedic Capstone Course, which all students participate in before they graduate.
“I want to help support the growth and advancement of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) professions in the most impactful way that I can,” Quinn said of her recent accomplishments. “With my previous years of experience, transition into my own EMS career, a love and caring for people and students, it seemed natural that this next academic adventure is a way that I can accomplish that goal.”
The care and knowledge of RCBC staff and faculty are clearly reflected in each year’s crop of graduates, and this year is no different.
“Our students are resilient, excited, dedicated, and demonstrate excellence in the care of people through the EMS professions,” Quinn said of the 2026 graduating class. “I am proud of every one of them; their growth, determination, and desire to fill the important and challenging roles in their communities is extremely rewarding for our entire team.”
2026 Paramedic Graduation Ceremony
Speaking of the graduates, last month RCBC celebrated these paramedic graduates at the 2026 Paramedic Graduation ceremony, held each semester to recognize paramedic science students and their accomplishments.
This year’s RCBC grads have a whopping 8,921 collective clinical and field hours, which accounts for:
- 1,429 medication administrations
- 129 intubations
- 3,245 ECGs
- 72 births
- 2,735 PT assessments
…and more! Congratulations to all students, and thank you to RCBC faculty and staff for their hard work and dedication to these students’ success.
Have your own exciting news relating to RCBC students and programs? Let us know via email at marketing@rcbc.edu.
