We are pleased to announce the recipients of the September 2016 NAEMT scholarships:

First Responder to EMT-B (up to $500):

Sarah Archer, Emergency Medical Responder (Lawrence, KS) — Sarah is an adjunct faculty member for Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis, and has prior experience instructing students at the University of Kansas and University of Indiana-Bloomington. She is currently enrolled in the EMS program at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) School of Medicine with the ultimate goal of becoming a paramedic. Despite her advance degrees and years in academia, Sarah finds herself very excited about her future. “I want to be one of the people who shows up when someone needs help,” Sarah said. “Maybe that means treatment in place. Maybe that means giving people their best chance of a good outcome at the ER if they need transport. The medic is the first link in that chain of providers. Being a strong, solid link in that chain is worth doing.”

EMT to Paramedic (up to $5,000):

Joseph Strait, EMT (Davis, WV) — Joseph has worked in EMS agencies and for a resort ski patrol. Joseph holds certifications from both the State of West Virginia and the National Registry of EMTs (NREMT). A former Infantry Soldier with the U.S. Army, Joseph got his start in emergency services at age 14 as an Explorer with the Boy Scouts of America and has been involved in emergency service ever since. He also served in the U.S. Air Force Civilian Auxiliary (aka Civil Air Patrol) where he held the roles of squadron safety officer and search and rescue leader/trainer. Joseph received West Virginia’s 2009 Safety Officer of the Year Award. “My desire to become a paramedic is partially based on the fact that West Virginia is very rural and my home community of Tucker County is among the most rural,” Joseph said. “Within this county, we are not always able to get a paramedic locally when needed.” Joseph has the desire to serve his community and would also like to become an EMS educator. He is planning to put his scholarship toward paramedic training at Pierpont Community & Technical College.

Jack Collins, EMT (Airway Heights, WA) — An EMT for a local fire department, Jack has been supporting the health needs of his community since 2008 and intends to begin a paramedic program in the spring. His passion for EMS was ignited by the comfort he received from EMS practitioners called to his father’s home to provide care. Jack’s interest continued in high school where he began his training to become a fire fighter and in his last school year, was called upon to help in Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. He clocked thousands of hours as a volunteer in emergency medicine and became a licensed EMT. Jack said, “I treat each and every patient of mine with that same compassion that I was shown as a small child. I put myself in the shoes of the patient or family.” Jack’s commitment to become a paramedic is not without obstacles – especially the financial strain it will put on his family. But, Jack believes he is meant to serve and treat the injured, and is eager to put learned skills into practice within his community. In the longer term, Jack would like to become a mentor and instructor so he could teach lifesaving skills in remote and wilderness areas where they are either absent or insufficient.

Paramedic to Advanced EMS (up to $2,000):

A. Jacob Fahrer, Paramedic (New Orleans, LA) — Jacob’s career in EMS has taken him from collegiate first response and rural basic life support to urban and metropolitan advanced life support. He is also an EMS educator. As a paramedic, Jacob has worked for 911 response services, coordinated with state disaster response teams, inter-facility and critical care transport, and participated in code teams at the emergency departments of community hospitals and multi-system trauma centers alike. Jacob wants to contribute to the need for skilled critical care paramedics in the Gulf area. His aspirations are also inspired by his own trauma caused when a car collided with his ambulance during a 911 response. This scholarship will help Jacob achieve his goal to advance his knowledge and skills so that he can provide the highest levels of prehospital care to patients experiencing high acuity illness and injury. Jacob plans to enroll in the Critical Care Paramedic Program at the University of Maryland Baltimore County this coming summer.