Whitman College Students Launch First Responders Group on Campus

Whitman College students recently launched Whitman College First Responders (WCFR), a student organization dedicated to providing first aid and medical assistance on campus.

The initiative was started last year and is led by Kenzie Bay ’25, a pre-med student and a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma, who felt inspired after completing an EMT course last summer.

“There’s a lot of empowerment in being trained to care for others,” Bay says. “It felt like a great fit to bring that to Whitman and help my peers in need.”

Greg Powell, Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Security, highlights the benefits of having trained student responders on campus. “While security will remain the initial point of contact, having WCFR students available to respond to calls with us means faster, more specialized care for medical incidents that do not require an extreme emergency response.”

WCFR will provide students to be on call during nights and weekends and times when the Welty Student Health Center is closed.

“These students have been very impressive in their research and organization," says Laura Norris, Director of the Health Center. “Their role will be to stabilize and provide appropriate first responder care, while adhering to strict HIPAA guidelines.”

Students Helping Students

While WCFR is one of the first student-led emergency response groups in Washington state, similar groups exist at other colleges and universities. So far, 15 students have joined the Whitman group and each has gone through advanced first aid training, including CPR and AED certification—nearly identical to EMT training, minus some pharmacological components.

“We hope that people will trust us with their health and know that we’re here as a resource," Bay says. “In many situations, it might be easier to deal with a peer who understands what you’re going through.”

Bay encourages interested students to get involved in this new ASWC-funded student group, emphasizing the importance of being prepared to handle emergencies and contribute to the safety of the Whitman community. No previous experience or training is required to get involved.

The WCFR leadership team includes: Accalia Quintana ’27, Communications Executive; Darta Sipola ’26, Community Executive; Maddie Sramek ’25, Equipment Executive; and Evan Wendel ’27, Budget Executive. Jun Park ’25, an EMT and volunteer at the Walla Walla Fire Department, serves as an advisor to the group, leveraging his connections to provide valuable training opportunities.

Whitman College First Responders will begin acting in their new role during the first week of fall semester and will serve throughout the academic year—except during breaks—providing a critical resource to ensure the well-being of their fellow students.