Marie Wells

From Sacramento, California to Northern Pennsylvania Regional College’s Education and Training Center – Erie, it’s been quite a journey to this point in time for former Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) student, Maria “Mia” Wells. This is her second stint living in Erie as she returned to northwestern Pennsylvania in 2015.

Mia’s passion has always been to help people and to serve others in any way that she could. Before her current full-time role as an Office Coordinator for Countryside Estates Mobile Home Park in McKean, she worked remotely as one of the main schedulers for different doctors' offices at UPMC. Public safety and healthcare have also always been a passion dating all the way back to working as a nursing assistant intern at the University of California, Davis trauma center as a teenager. There may have been some changes in her life over time, but now, she’s able to follow her heart and serve the community she cares about.

In addition to her full-time role, she also is a volunteer firefighter for McKean Hose Fire Department and primarily serves as a scene support to help as needed. She recently added a certification for fire police and wrapped up her EMT certification in 2023. “I didn't do any of this to be paid or anything,” Wells explained. “I wanted to be able to better assist the McKean Hose Fire Department and those in the community I live in.”

Becoming an EMT is something Wells started thinking about pursuing a few years ago. After she began her service as a firefighter, she learned of the opportunity at NPRC to take an EMT course and study for her certification close to home. “I saw television commercials and ads in the newspaper, but the opportunity arose when our fire chief and president approached some of our firefighters (at the McKean Hose Fire Department) about the opportunity to attend the College. I thought it sounded like a great program and opportunity.”

“It was a wonderful experience at NPRC,” she said. “I learned so much and my instructor was amazing. He was knowledgeable and helpful to all of us and was straight to a tee. He made sure that everything we needed was uploaded online and communicated well with us. He also held us accountable to make sure we were learning and ready. I enjoyed working alongside my amazing classmates and all the different experiences they brought to the course. Everyone in our class was eager to learn and is proactive about staying up to date on what is being asked of us.”

In order to have this opportunity to become such a well-rounded professional in public safety, Wells credits the support she had received from her colleagues at the McKean Hose Fire Department. It is a true family environment in which everyone helps train and assist one another the best they can. “Everyone there takes care of one another. If any of us need anything, we can reach out and somebody will be there to help and support us. Everybody I have met there along the way has been absolutely wonderful.”

Healthcare and public safety have been a passion of hers all her life and she hopes more people will take the initiative to receive training and become more educated. It can make a true difference not just in our region, but across the nation. “Whether it’s a full EMT class, a CPR certification, or even learning to use an AED machine, it is all a tremendous help. You never know when you might be able to use these skills and help someone in need. If we can all work together and learn a little bit more, it could save time and save lives.”

While it may have been an unlikely journey from Yolo County, California to Erie, Pennsylvania, Marie Wells is proud to call this region home and is thankful to have been a student at Northern Pennsylvania Regional College. “NPRC is a hidden gem, and more people need to know about the wonderful classes that the College has to offer. There really are a lot of options for students to take advantage of. NPRC is great and has a lot to offer our communities,” she said.