National EMS Awards

Each year, NAEMT collaborates with other national EMS organizations to recognize outstanding achievements and contributions in EMS. By submitting a nomination, you not only recognize the candidate, you also honor and recognize the EMS profession – and all EMS professionals – who provide quality emergency patient care to their communities every day.

Select an award below to view the award information and submit your nomination.
The 2022 nominations are now closed. The nomination period for 2023 awards will reopen in February 2023.

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National EMS Awards of Excellence

NAEMT/Demers-Braun-Crestline-Medix EMT of the Year

Recognizes an emergency medical technician who demonstrates excellence in the performance of emergency medical services, with their primary role being that of prehospital patient care. The award recipient receives $1,000 in cash, three core program registrations, and $1,200 for travel and lodging at the EMS World Expo/NAEMT Annual Meeting held the same year as the award. Award recipient is announced in NAEMT News and EMS World Magazine, and recognized at the NAEMT General Membership Meeting and the opening ceremony of EMS World Expo.
NAEMT/Prodigy Paramedic of the Year

Recognizes a Paramedic who demonstrates excellence in the performance of emergency medical services, with their primary role being that of prehospital patient care. The award recipient receives $1,000 in cash, three core program registrations, and $1,200 for travel and lodging at the EMS World Expo/NAEMT Annual Meeting held the same year as the award. Award recipient is announced in NAEMT News and EMS World Magazine, and recognized at the NAEMT General Membership Meeting and the opening ceremony of EMS World Expo.
NAEMT/Jones & Bartlett Learning Public Safety Group EMS Educator of the Year

Recognizes an EMS educator who demonstrates excellence in providing EMS education to students. The award recipient receives $1,000 in cash, three core program registrations, and $1,200 for travel and lodging at the EMS World Expo/NAEMT Annual Meeting held the same year as the award. Award recipient is announced in NAEMT News and EMS World Magazine, and recognized at the NAEMT General Membership Meeting and the opening ceremony of EMS World Expo.
NAEMT/Bound Tree EMS Medical Director of the Year

Recognizes an EMS Medical Director who demonstrates clinical excellence in EMS and serves as a role model for all EMS agency personnel. The award recipient receives $1,000 in cash, three core program registrations, and $1,200 for travel and lodging at the EMS World Expo/NAEMT Annual Meeting held the same year as the award. Award recipient is announced in NAEMT News and EMS World Magazine, and recognized at the NAEMT General Membership Meeting and the opening ceremony of EMS World Expo.
NAEMT/North American Rescue Military Medic of the Year

Recognizes a military medic who demonstrates excellence in the performance of military emergency medicine. Those eligible include any active or reserve U.S. Army Medic, Navy Corpsman, or Air Force Medic. The award recipient receives $1,000 in cash, three core program registrations, and $1,200 for travel and lodging at the EMS World Expo/NAEMT Annual Meeting held the same year as the award. This award complies with the Department of Defense’s employees gift-giving and gift-receiving rules. Award recipient is announced in NAEMT News and EMS World Magazine, and recognized at the NAEMT General Membership Meeting and the opening ceremony of EMS World Expo.
NAEMT-AAP/Handtevy Pediatric EMS Award

NAEMT and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) have partnered to annually recognize an individual who has demonstrated excellence in providing pediatric EMS care and/or education. The award recipient receives $1,000 in cash, three core program registrations, and $1,200 for travel and lodging at the EMS World Expo/NAEMT Annual Meeting held the same year as the award. Award recipient will be announced through a joint AAP-NAEMT press release, on the AAP and NAEMT web sites, in NAEMT News and EMS World Magazine, and recognized at the NAEMT General Membership Meeting and the opening ceremony of EMS World Expo.
Dick Ferneau Career EMS Service of the Year

Recognizes outstanding performance by a paid EMS service. The award recipient receives $1,000 in cash, three core program registrations, and $1,200 for travel and lodging at the EMS World Expo/NAEMT Annual Meeting held the same year as the award. Award recipient is announced in NAEMT News and EMS World Magazine, and recognized at the NAEMT General Membership Meeting and the opening ceremony of EMS World Expo.
EMS World Volunteer EMS Service of the Year

Recognizes outstanding performance by a volunteer EMS service. The award recipient receives $1,000 in cash, three core program registrations, and $1,200 for travel and lodging at the EMS World Expo/NAEMT Annual Meeting held the same year as the award. Award recipient is announced in NAEMT News and EMS World Magazine, and recognized at the NAEMT General Membership Meeting and the opening ceremony of EMS World Expo.
EMS World/Dynarex EMS Caring Award

Recognizes either an EMS professional or EMS agency that has demonstrated exceptional caring through community service actions and/or programs designed to improve the health and safety of the community they serve. The award recipient receives $1,000 in cash, three core program registrations, and $1,200 for travel and lodging at the EMS World Expo/NAEMT Annual Meeting held the same year as the award. Award recipient is announced in NAEMT News and EMS World Magazine, and recognized at the NAEMT General Membership Meeting and the opening ceremony of EMS World Expo.
NAEMT-ACEP/Technimount EMS Safety in EMS Award

NAEMT and the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) have partnered to annually recognize an EMS agency which has significantly contributed to advancing EMS practitioner and/or patient safety through the Safety in EMS Award. The award recipient receives $1,000 in cash, three core program registrations, and $1,200 for travel and lodging at the EMS World Expo/NAEMT Annual Meeting held the same year as the award. Award recipient is announced in NAEMT News and EMS World Magazine, and recognized at the NAEMT General Membership Meeting and the opening ceremony of EMS World Expo.
EMS World/FirstNet, Built with AT&T Wellness and Resilience Award

Recognizes an EMS agency that tangibly demonstrates the attributes of a culture of wellness and resilience. The award recipient receives $1,000 in cash, three core program registrations, and $1,200 for travel and lodging at the EMS World Expo/NAEMT Annual Meeting held the same year as the award. Award recipient is announced in NAEMT News and EMS World Magazine, and recognized at the NAEMT General Membership Meeting and the opening ceremony of EMS World Expo.

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National EMS Awards of Excellence Recipients

Paramedic of the Year

1984	Thomas W Dick	Solana Beach, CA
1985	Aaron Hayes	Columbus, OH
1986	William Gentleman	Omaha, NE
1987	Gregory Stephen Brooks	Augusta, GA
1988	Mitchell Steward, REMT-P	Spartanburg, SC
1989	Jesse Allen Boutwell	Austin, TX
1990	Joe Gratton	Jacksonville, AR
1991	C. Doug Silk	Spartanburg, SC
1992	Scott Springfield	Conroe, TX
1993	Linda McIntosh, EMT-P	Griffithville, AR
1994	Ray Simpson, Jr.	El Reno, OK
1995	James T. Cantrell	Little Rock, AR
1996	Timothy Morrison	Louisiana
1997	Andy Goldthorpe	Little Rock, AR
1998	Daniel S. Thomas	Tarpon Springs, FL
1999	Rhonda McBride	Mountain Home, AR
2000	Wesley Lynn Gay	Floral, AR
2001	Jon S. McMahan	Conway, AR
2002	Patty J. Hasney	New Orleans, LA
2003	Donald W. Walsh, PhD	Chicago, IL
2004	David H. Calkin, NREMT-P	Clinton, AR
2005	Melissa D. Coffell, NREMT-P	Paragould, AR
2006	Tonia Hale	Searcy, AR
2007	Tom E. Wilson	El Dorado, AR
2008	Steven Ray Huffine	Vilonia, AR
2009	Chris M. Honda	Hilo, HI
2010	Lisa M. Camp	Friendswood, TX
2011	Ann Edwards	Indianapolis, IN
2012	Kenneth Davenport	Marion, KY
2013	Shawn Mease	Glenn Allen, VA
2014	Susan Bailey	Denham Springs, LA
2015	Brandy Rice	Arkansas City, KS
2016	Bryn Arnold	Indianapolis, IN
2017	Terry Bottjen	Faith, South Dakota
2018	Angela Hamilton	Wichita, Kansas
2019	Debby Carscallen	Moscow, Idaho
2020	Stephen Licke	Wantagh, NY
2021	Jeremy McElroy, Paramedic	Chesapeake, VA

EMT of the Year

1975	Joseph J. Martin, Jr.	Trenton, NJ
1976
1977
1978	Joseph J. Martin, Jr.	Trenton, NJ
1979	Theodore R. Turley	New Cumberland, WV
1980	H. Walter Gary	Fairfield, IA
1981	Murl Gallagher	Waverly, MN
1982	Glenda L. Dolehanty	Durand, MI
1983	Greg Gille	Carlsbad, CA
1984	Jeffrey G. Cleemer	FPO San Francisco, CA
1984	Theodore R. Turley
1985	Eric Meyer	Sauk Centre, MN
1986	Harold Crutsinger	Austin, TX
1987	William A. Burnett	Merriam, KS
1988	Ben E. Blankenship	Benton, AR
1989	Kenneth J. Bouvier	New Orleans, LA
1990	Clarence Lawson Minters	Cardinal, VA
1991	Kathleen Johannsen	LeSueur, MN
1992	Randy Reed	Magnolia, AR
1993	Terry L. Bottjen	Hill City, SD
1994	Carl Hoppis	Western Grove, AR
1995	Kevin Steever	Ft. Pierre, SD
1996	John Roquemore	Louisiana
1997	Malcholm Johnson	Quitman, AR
1998	Janet Foster	St. Joseph, LA
1999	Brenda Voshalike	Cannon Falls, MN
2000
2001	Terry Bracy	Malvern, AR
2002	Doyle "Bodie" Glennon, Jr.	Marion, LA
2003	Gregory L. Coleman	Ruston, LA
2004	Keith Edmonds, EMT-A	Bruno, AR
2005	Joseph T. Schnell, EMT-I/CC	Lake Preston, SD
2006	Sedley Tomlinson	Conway, AR
2007	Leroy Funderburk, EMT	Largo, FL
2008	Kim Hall, EMT-B	Center Ridge, AR
2009	Linda Smith
2010	Mark E. Wintle	Morris Township, NJ
2011	William (Bill) Rise	Millbank, SD
2012	Dean Darling	Sauk City, WI
2013	Paul Schueth	Winner, SD
2014	Brandon Pruitt	Searcy, AR
2015	Glen Anderson	Bridgewater, MA
2016	Nicole Richards	Burlington, CO
2017	Ryan Houser	Morristown, New Jersey
2018	Steven Kroll	Delmar, New York
2019	Freya Whalen	Clever, Missouri
2020	Jonathan Thatcher	South Rim, UT
2021	Tracie Sanders	Normanna, TX

Military Medic of the Year

EMS Educator of the Year

EMS Medical Director of the Year

Pediatric EMS Award

2021 Brian Moore, MD, FAAP, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Volunteer EMS Service of the Year

1979	Bridgeview Fire Department, Bridgeview, IL
1980	Elbert County EMS, Elberton, GA
1981	Dallas Fire Department, Dallas, TX
1982	Sheldon Community Ambulance Team, Sheldon, IA
1983	Durand-Vernon EMS, Durand, MI
1984	Austin EMS, Austin, TX
1985	Owasso Township EMS, Durand, MI
1986	Leawood Rescue Squad, Leawood, KS
1987	Gonzales Volunteer EMS, Gonzales, TX
1988	Virginia Tech University Rescue Squad, Blacksburg, VA
1989	City of Mart EMS, Mart, TX
1990	Chetek Ambulance Service, Chetek, WI
1991	Not Presented
1992	Cherokee Village Ambulance Service, Cherokee Village, AR
1993	Quitman Rescue Service, Quitman, AR
1994	Tappahannock Volunteer Rescue Squad, Tappahannock, VA
1995	Marshall EMS, Marshall, MN
1996	Jackson Volunteer Ambulance, Jackson, MN
1997	Windom Ambulance Service, Windom, MN
1998	Sauk Centre Ambulance Service, Sauk Centre, MN
1999	Town of Colonie EMS, Latham, NY
2000	Seymour Ambulance Association, Seymour, CT
2001
2002	University of Delaware Emergency Care Unit, Newark, DE
2003	Brown's Valley Ambulance, Brown's Valley, MN
2004	Ellington Volunteer Ambulance Corps Inc., Ellington, CT
2005	Stratford EMS, Stratford, CT
2006	Ellinwood EMS, Ellinwood, KS
2007
2008	Delaware City Fire Company, Delaware City, DE
2009
2010	Morris Minute Men EMS, Morris Township, NJ
2010	Charleston County EMS, Charleston, SC
2011	Bay Shore - Brightwaters Rescue Ambulance, Bay Shore, NY
2012	Friendship Volunteer Fire Department EMS, Friendshipwood, TX
2013
2014	Rice University Emergency Medical Services, Houston, TX
2015	Calvert Advanced Life Support, Prince Frederick, MD
2016	Valhalla Volunteer Ambulance Corps, New York City, NY
2017	Greenlawn Fire Dept. EMS, Greenlawn, NY
2018	Virginia Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad, Virginia Beach, VA
2019	Kirk of Prince Anne Courthouse Volunteer Rescue Squad, Virginia Beach, VA
2020	Sun City Center Emergency Squad, Sun City, FL
2021	Darien EMS-Post 53, Darien, Connecticut

Career EMS Service of the Year

EMS Caring Award

2021 Derek Perez-Piris, St. Petersburg, FL

Safety in EMS

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Lifetime Achievement Award

Rocco V. Morando Lifetime Achievement Award

The most prestigious award granted by NAEMT is the Rocco V. Morando Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians. Applications are not accepted for this award. Rather, an outstanding professional working in the field of EMS is chosen.

Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients

1984	Rocco V. Morando, Bellefontaine, OH
1986	Cecil Arnold, Springfield, VA
1989	Robert Kellow, Dallas, TX
1990	Richard H. Ferneau, Wilmington, OH
1991	Roger White, MD, Rochester, MN
1992	Dan McNutt, Lakewood, OH
1996	Dr. Richard L. Judd, New Britain, CT
1998	Wade N. Spruill, Jackson, MS
1998	Jim L. Werries, Newton, KS
1999	Dr. Joseph Hartmann, Chicago, IL
2000	Terry Shorr, Columbus, OH
2001	Ray Bias, Louisiana
2002	Norman McSwain, MD, New Orleans, LA
2002	Walt Stoy, Pittsburgh, PA
2003	Paul M. Maniscalco, MPA, EMT-P, Washington, DC
2003	Thomas "T.J." Sanborn, Mitchell, SD
2004	Alexander M. Butman, NREMT-P, Fairlawn, OH
2005	James S. Murray, NREMT-B, Cheyenne, WY
2005	Lou Jordan, Union Bridge, MD
2006	Drew Dawson, NHTSA
2007	Col. Patricia Hastings, MD, San Antonio, TX
2008	Kenneth J. Bouvier, Luling, LA
2009	William E. "Bill" Brown, Jr., NREMT
2010	Jonathan Politis, Latham, NY
2011	Ken Knipper, Melbourne, KY
2012	Will Chapleau, Chicago, IL
2013	Daniel Manz, Essex Junction, VT
2014	Jay Fitch, Platte City, MO
2015	Dr. Peter Glaeser, Birmingham, AL
2016	Jerry Overton, Kansas City, MO
2017	Rob Wagoner, Columbus, OH
2018	Captain Frank K. Butler, Jr., (USN ret), MD
2019	David E. Persse, MD, FACEP, FAEMS, Texas
2020	Douglas F. Kupas, MD, FAEMS, FACEP, PA
2021	Brigadier General (ret), USAF, Craig A. Manifold, DO, FACEP, FAAEM, FAEMS, TX (posthumously)

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NAEMT Education Service Award

Selection Criteria for Education Service Award
NAEMT Education Service Awards recognize members of NAEMT’s faculty who have made outstanding contributions to NAEMT education through:
- the development or revision of course curriculum;
- the facilitation of new training centers;
- mentoring new instructors; or
- increasing student access to courses.
2016 Recipients

Tim Scharer
Susan Bailey
Lee Richardson
Frank Flake
Dr. Ana Maria Mendoza
2017 Recipients

Franklin Fire Department
Elkin Fuentes
Ray Smith
Roger Guinn
Lucia Po
Dr. Ann Dietrich
2018 Recipients

Will Broughton
Edwin Davila
Yvette Emstjo
Dr. Bengt Eriksson
Rodney Lewis
Jeri Smith
Dr. Raphael Suarez
2019 Recipients

Vicki Gallaher
Michael Kaduce
Aaron Miranda
Dr. Alejandro Gomez
2020 Recipients

Sergeant John Waldon
Cathy Cockrell
Amanda Uc Cupul
Ahed Al Najjar
David Trent Dobbs
2021 Recipients

Joanne Piccininni
Juan Velasquez
Chris Kroboth
Lieutenant Ulises Larraga Trejo
Garry Huang
Jack Chang

2018	Peter Antevy, MD	Davie, FL
2019	Michael Dailey, MD, FACEP, FAEMS	Delmar, NY
2020	Paul Pepe, MD, MPH	Dallas, TX
2021	Kenneth Scheppke, MD, FAEMS	Jupiter, FL

2016	Ernest Parrish, Paramedic/SOCOM Medic, Sergeant, U.S. Army, Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM), WA
2017	Jacob Ponczkowski, Sergeant, U.S. Army, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA
2018	Stephen Meyer, Staff Sergeant, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA
2019	HM1 Kenneth Russell, US Navy, Camp Lejeune, NC
2020	Colleen Mitchell, Senior Airman, EMT, United States Air Force, Land O’Lakes, FL
2021	MSG Michael Remley ATP, NRP, JBSA Ft Sam Houston, TX

2016	Leaugeay Barnes, Paramedic, Tulsa, OK
2017	Ginny Renkiewicz, Paramedic, Fayetteville, NC
2018	Jeremy Sonenschein Las Vegas, NV
2019	Melissa Stuive, Portland, TX
2020	Scott DeBoer, CCRN, Dyer, IN
2021	Justin Arnone, BS, NRP, NCEE, TP-C, FP-C, Pride, LA

2016	New Hanover Regional Medical Center’s Emergency Transport Services, Wilmington, NC
2017	Allina Health EMS, St. Paul, MN
2018	Leon County Division of EMS, Leon County, FL
2019	San Antonio Fire Department EMS, San Antonio, TX
2020	Onslow County EMS, Jacksonville, NC
2021	Pafford Medical Services (Multiple Locations)

2020	Butler County EMS, El Dorado, KS
2021	HealthNet Aeromedical Services, Charleston, WV