By Jessica Cejnar
Peninsula Clarion
Copyright 2007 Peninsula Clarion
HOPE, Alaska — When Security Aviation ran into legal trouble a year ago, 11 paramedic students would have had their training cut short had it not been for Valerie DeFrance. Rather than concede defeat and give up her classroom, DeFrance, an emergency medical technician (EMT) and paramedic from the Hope area, threatened the company’s lawyers with a little legal action of her own.
“When bankruptcy was declared, the lawyer wanted us out immediately,” DeFrance said. “And, to be frank, I just had a little discussion about 11 students suing versus letting us stay. He saw the wisdom of that.”
To allow her students to complete their paramedic training, earn their licenses and begin their internships, DeFrance and her colleagues taught the remainder of the course without pay.
Full Story: DeFrance to receive National Paramedic of the Year Award