Sept. 7 deadline for EMT ‘Earn while you learn’ scholarship – Miami Valley Today
Recent EMT graduate Harleigh Hicks of Spirit EMS, who also serves as a Lockington firefighter, practices extrication techniques in removing “Rescue Randy” during a recent joint training exercise between Spirit EMS and Lockington firefighters.
Courtesy photo | Brian K. Hathaway, president CEO Spirit EMS
Lockington Assistant Fire Chief Bruce Peepels (left) gives pointers to recent Spirit EMT graduate Lydia Heeter of Greenville (right) as Spirit EMT Jenniffer Rush (background) of St. Mary’s removes the backboard that was being used to simulate the extrication techniques used when having to use extrication tools to remove trapped patients in automobile accidents.
Courtesy photo | Brian K. Hathaway, president CEO Spirit EMS
GREENVILLE — Spirit EMS is expanding its training portfolio with a new paid EMT course designed to help meet the nation’s pressing EMS staffing needs.
The program, hosted at Spirit’s education center in Greenville at 700 Riffle Ave., is offered in collaboration with Four County Career Center. Paramedic instructors Crystal Horne and Ellie Piatt will join lead instructor Paramedic Josh Henry as co-instructors.
For the upcoming class, housing and transportation assistance are available for successful candidates residing within Spirit’s service area, not near Greenville. Applications for the fall class will be accepted until Sept. 7 at 5 p.m.
Brian K. Hathaway, president and CEO of Spirit EMS, notes that demand for skilled EMS professionals is at an all-time high. “We’re excited to create clear pathways for people to enter this rewarding career and make a meaningful difference in the areas we serve. Our program equips students to handle all levels of EMS care and its challenges, and rewards dedication with tangible benefits.”
Hathaway also shared strong outcomes from Spirit’s recent EMT classes: more than nine in ten students passed the National Registry on their first attempt, and every participant achieved certification on the second.
The fall curriculum runs weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., from Sept. 22 through Oct. 31. After completing the course, students will take the National Registry exam, participate in a month of field training with Spirit EMS, and then work alongside a partner on an ambulance.
“Our mission goes beyond teaching the basics of emergency medical services; we celebrate every student’s progress and success,” Hathaway added. “There is a clear link between active classroom involvement and long-term career achievement.”
Since August 2017, Spirit EMS has invested over $1 million in local education through its scholarship program to cultivate a new generation of EMTs and paramedics. This initiative addresses the urgent need for qualified emergency personnel in Spirit’s service areas in southwestern Ohio and eastern Indiana.
Hathaway emphasized Spirit’s broader commitment: “We aim to build a workforce that is highly skilled and engaged in positive community impact. We are dedicated to providing thorough training and ongoing support so graduates are prepared for the essential roles we provide daily.”
Prospective students are encouraged to apply for the EMT scholarship program. The program requires course completion, national certification, a commitment to 2,080 hours of full-time service with Spirit EMS, and a month of paid on-the-job training post-certification.
For more information and to apply, visit www.spiritmedicaltransport.com/emtscholarship. Applications are currently being accepted through the Spirit EMS website or by contacting Ted Bruner at [email protected] or Larissa Winchester at [email protected].
Spirit EMS operates facilities in Celina, Defiance, Greenville, Houston, Van Wert, Ohio, and Liberty, Indiana, and remains dedicated to strengthening community ties through education and healthcare excellence.
