The first 8: High school students complete EMT class

Their official high school graduation may still be about a week away, but for seven of the eight Perquimans County High School students who signed up for an EMT class with Perquimans Emergency Services this spring, this week’s EMT class celebration kind of felt like a graduation ceremony, too.

According Sheila Twine, a work-based learning coordinator at PCHS, this was the first year that students at the school could sign up for an EMT class with Perquimans Emergency Medical Services.

The students completed rotations at EMS after school and on weekends, shadowing EMTs. They also shadowed a 911 communications officer to get a better understanding of the challenges of answering real-time calls from the public.

“They get certified in CPR and can earn other certifications,” Twine said. “This helps them decide on which career they are interested in the medical field. They get FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) job-ready credentials that are relevant to emergency services careers.”

Perquimans High School’s internship program with Perquimans Emergency Services actually began several years ago after the COVID-19 pandemic, when most EMS agencies were facing staffing shortages.

To get more high school students interested in becoming EMTs, Perquimans Emergency Services decided to partner with the high school’s Career and Technical Education Program and create the internship program. The program exposed students to the county 911 Communications Center, law enforcement and fire agencies, emergency medical services and emergency management.

But officials thought more was needed. To get students prepared to gain certification so that they could immediately go to work as an EMT after high school, College of The Albemarle and Perquimans Emergency Services collaborated with the high school to create an in-person EMT course.

Students enrolled in the course would have to complete 120 hours to earn credit for high school as well as finish 240 hours of classroom, lab, and EMS precept time to complete the EMT class. The class was taught at the Emergency Services building in Hertford.

The eight students who attended the EMT class celebration on Monday were the first to complete the EMT class.

Julie Solesbee, assistant director of Perquimans Emergency Services, said COA funded the instructor for the class while the high school CTE program paid for students’ “incidental fees” as well as their opportunity to test for the state exam.

“Emergency Services helped support the students on Fridays where you could find them working on skills they had learned that week, took multiple field trips, and spent time with staff,” she said.

Zoe Clifton, one of the eight students who completed the EMT class, said her plan now is to pursue a career in paramedicine. She is considering attending COA and then Western Carolina University for additional training.

For Brianna Gilbert, the internship was a good step toward the career she hopes to have as a marine biologist. She plans to attend East Carolina University.

Maggie Jones plans to attend COA’s nursing aide program and then ECU, where she can study for a career as a labor and delivery nurse.

Dakota Mayo hopes to work as an EMT during the summer before attending ECU to major in exercise physiology.

“This internship has had a major impact on many different aspects on my life, including career choices, expectations for the medical field, and the ability to multitask,” Mayo said.

Kaelyn Melton said she’s weighing her options that include working as a certified EMT with Perquimans County EMS, working as an advanced EMT, or as a flight medic or fight nurse.

“Agreeing to participate in this internship was one of the best decisions I made in my entire school career,” Melton said. “This is an amazing experience I will never forget.”

Jacob Nixon, who plans to play collegiate soccer at Mid-Atlantic Christian University, said his career goal is to become a flight paramedic.

Natalie Peterson, who plans to attend either East Carolina University or Western Carolina University, said she hopes the internship will be as valuable to future students as it was for her.

“I hope there will be future classes that will get to experience this and grow the EMS field,” she said. “Thanks to all the people that gave us this great opportunity and made everything possible.”

Bristyl Riddick is slated to attend Norfolk State University on a softball scholarship. Her goal is to become a flight nurse.

Perquimans Emergency Services Director Jonathan Nixon and Solesbee congratulated the students on completing their internships during a ceremony on Monday. Solesbee said she is delighted that three of the eight students have already passed their EMT basic state exam, certifying them to practice in North Carolina as an EMT.