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 open through June 30.

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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.

Make your nomination
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.

Make your nomination
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.

Make your nomination
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.

Make your nomination
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.

Make your nomination
NAEMT-AAP 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.

Make your nomination
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.

Make your nomination
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.

Make your nomination
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.

Make your nomination
NAEMT-ACEP/Technimount 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.

Make your nomination
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.

Make your nomination

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National EMS Awards of Excellence Recipients

Paramedic of the Year

EMT of the Year

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

2016	Bryn Arnold, Paramedic, Indianapolis, IN
2017	Terry Bottjen, Paramedic, Faith, SD
2018	Angela Hamilton, Paramedic, Wichita, KS
2019	Debby Carscallen, Paramedic, Moscow, ID
2020	Stephen Lincke, Paramedic, Wantagh, NY
2021	Jeremy McElroy, Paramedic, Chesapeake, VA

2016	Nicole Richards, EMT, Burlington, CO
2017	Ryan Houser, EMT, Morristown, NJ
2018	Steven Kroll, EMT, Delmar, NY
2019	Freya Whalen, EMT, Clever, MO
2020	Jonathon Thatcher, EMT, South Rim, UT
2021	Tracie Sanders, EMT, Normanna, TX

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

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	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