NAEMT congratulates our most recent scholarship recipients:
First Responder to EMT-B ($500) - Christine Sones, Temple, N.H.
EMT-Basic to EMT-Paramedic ($5,000 each) - Eric Freeberg, Jacksonville, Fla., and Michelle Peterson, Moab, Utah
Paramedic EMS Education Advancement ($2,000) - Mark Dunlap, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Degree Completion Program offered by The College Network ($2,500) - Andrew Hensley, Payson, Az.
Sones is a first responder with her local fire department. She will study to be certified as an EMT with Elliot Hospital in Manchester, N.H., with the goal of then becoming a paramedic and flight nurse. “This scholarship will help me put my studies as my top priority,” she says. “My goal is to pay for each step of my education without incurring debt.”
Freeberg is an EMT-B enrolled with the paramedic program at Florida State College at Jacksonville. In his recent EMT-B program, he took an hour before each course to help and mentor other students in the class. “I am proud and honored to be such a special part of the healthcare force,” he says. “I have had the privilege of working with some of the best staff and physicians in the world. This scholarship will help me give more time and effort to school, research, patient care and my family, and will help me continue to mentor my fellow students and my community.”
Peterson is an EMT-I with Grand County EMS. “I truly feel fortunate to get to run in an area like Moab where my skills and stamina are put to the test almost every day. This scholarship will mean the difference between having to work while in school or being able to be fully dedicated to my classroom and field study time. After completing my program, my EMS director has requested that I help the agency transition from a BLS to an ALS agency with paramedics on each crew. I am thrilled at the opportunities that are now just ahead of me.”
Dunlap is a paramedic with the City of Pittsburgh. He says he enjoys living in the same community in which he works, and several times has helped accident victims and others while he was off duty. Dunlap will be attending the University of Pittsburgh to earn a Bachelor's degree in Emergency Medicine. “I have obtained an extensive amount of field experience – now it's time to expand my education. A degree in Emergency Medicine will help me be a better paramedic and a better mentor to new paramedics. My professional development is important to me so I can deliver the highest quality of care to my patients.”
Hensley is a paramedic with the Payson Fire Department. He currently is earning his Bachelor's degree in Emergency Operations and Management from Grand Canyon University, an Associate's degree from The College Network, and is finishing prerequisites for a Master's degree from his community college. “Early on I was taught that EMS professionals are 'lifetime students' and we will never stop learning. I am dedicated to that betterment,” he says. He has worked in the fire service and EMS field for several years, and says, “In my heart I know there is no better way to serve my local community.”
The next deadline for scholarship applications is September 15. Learn more and access the application here. You will need to log in as a member to access the page.