Clinton, Miss. — The National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) congratulates its most recent scholarship recipients:
First Responder to EMT-Basic ($500) — Mario Lepore, Hoboken, N.J.
“I have been a first responder for many years and am an instructor for emergency
response teams,” says Lepore. “I always have wanted to become a certified EMT but have not had a chance to attend any courses due to my work schedule and the cost of the program. My goal is to eventually become a paramedic and enhance the profession of all in the emergency medical field.”
EMT-Basic to EMT-Paramedic ($5,000) — Diana Albanese, White River Junction, Vt., and Edward J. Burrell, Jr., Peach Bottom, Pa.
“After 19 years in the field, I am making every attempt possible to attain paramedic status,” says Albanese. “I truly believe that a person’s first defense is knowledge… and that many EMS services can offer the knowledge and community bond that is needed to educate, help and ally with the communities they serve.”
“As an EMT-B for more than 20 years, I recently have returned to a full-time career in EMS after working in other areas of public safety,” says Burrell. “I am now looking to complete the next important step in climbing the EMS career ladder. Thank you for this opportunity.”
Paramedic EMS Education Advancement ($2,000) — Christie Hale, Orange, Tex.
“Since I began my adventure in EMS, I have strived to be the best and most knowledgeable to adequately serve the people. I began as an EMT and worked my way to a licensed paramedic in about three years,” says Hale. “I am lead instructor for an EMTBasic class. To continue teaching, I need to obtain my degree in EMS.” NAEMT congratulates most recent scholarship recipients, add 1 “Recently, we were struck by Hurricane Ike, so money cannot go to education — it needs to go toward rebuilding our lives. With this scholarship, I can obtain my degree in EMS
and continue my teaching career.”
Degree completion program through The College Network ($2,500) — David Barr, Asheboro, N.C.
“I began my EMS career in 1993 as an EMT-Basic with the fire department while in college. My intentions are to use my education to ultimately combine my two career fields — politics and government and EMS — by using field experience and management training to help shape EMS policy,” says Barr. “Thank you for the opportunities that NAEMT affords its members.”
NAEMT offers $35,000 annually in educational scholarships to assist members in continuing their education. The next scholarship application deadline is September 15, 2009. Applicants must be individual, active members of NAEMT. “In these trying economic times, we are pleased to be able to assist our members by providing these educational scholarships to our active members,” says NAEMT President Patrick Moore. “We wish them the very best in completing their education.” Formed in 1975 and today more than 30,000 members strong, NAEMT is the nation’s only organization dedicated to representing the professional interests of all EMS practitioners, including paramedics, emergency medical technicians, first responders and other professionals working in pre-hospital emergency medicine. NAEMT members work in all sectors of EMS, including government service agencies, fire departments, hospital-based ambulance services, private companies, industrial and special operations settings, and in the military.