BERNE — When Patrick John Stempel, also known as P.J., graduated this June and celebrated this past weekend, he was the third generation in his family not only to graduate from Berne-Knox-Westerlo, but to be a certified emergency medical technician. He is also a fifth-generation volunteer fireman on on both his paternal and maternal sides.

His mother, Kimberly Filkins Stempel, is a 1989 BKW graduate and his grandmother, Betty Peck Filkins, is a 1965 BKW graduate whose class celebrated its 50th class reunion this summer.

Kim Stempel works for Altamont Ambulance and volunteers for Heldeburg Ambulance. Betty Filkins was also an EMT with Westerlo Ambulance and was the first woman to volunteer as a firefighter and fight fires with Westerlo Volunteer Fire Company; she is a life member of TWFD, as is P.J.’s grandfather, Richard Filkins. His great-grandfather Lloyd Filkins was a member of the Rensselaerville Fire Company and his great-grandfather Charles H. Peck was a charter member of New Salem Fire Company.

P.J.’s father, Patrick “Doodles” Stempel, is a volunteer fireman for East Berne Volunteer Fire Company as was his grandfather Patrick “Goozer” Stempel.

So you can see volunteering runs in the family.

In high school, P.J. attended the Capital Region Board of Cooperative Educational Services Career and Technical Education Medium/Heavy Duty Truck Repair Program through Berne-Knox-Westerlo, which is the only high school-level program in the state to earn certification by the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation/Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (NATEF/ASE), ensuring that its graduates are ready for career opportunities.

P.J. is hoping to find a position with a local construction company but is also checking out paid EMT positions on local ambulances to secure yet a second job as his love of cars gives him lots of motivation.

Congratulations to P.J. Stempel from not only his entire extended family but his volunteer family as well!