BY DONNA SWICEGOOD
Iredell County Emergency Medical Services employees celebrated the department’s successes during the past year on Wednesday evening while also paying tribute to those who came before them.
The annual awards banquet recognized the achievements of the current group of emergency medical technicians and paramedics. But it was also a chance to showcase the 50-year history of Iredell County EMS with many of those who were a part of the early years in attendance.
Melissa Neader, vice chair of the Iredell County Board of Commissioners, said she was pleased to see the various generations in attendance.
“Congratulations on 50 years!” she said. “Let’s think about where it’s been, where it came from and where we are now.”
Neader offered a “heartfelt” thank you to those who are part of the current group as well as to those who preceded them. “What really matters is you keep showing up and you keep doing what needs to be done,” she said.
Dr. Tripp Winslow, North Carolina EMS medical director, said emergency workers make a difference every day and do that while dealing with people experiencing possibly the worst day of their lives.
“They know how to take care of people in the scariest times of their lives,” he said.
Rob Harris of Restorative Road Ministries, one of the three Community Involvement Award recipients, shared an experience about EMS personnel responding to help a man living in a tent. He was touched by the kindness and compassion shown by EMS employees.
“Just the little things,” he said, make a difference.
EMS Director Eric Morrison recognized the retired and current employees of EMS and noted the impact they have made individually and as a group.
“Hundreds of thousands of patients have benefited from the people in this room,” he said. “Think about how many families just celebrated Thanksgiving that had someone sitting there at the table with them because of the work the people in this room do everyday.”
AWARDS
The following awards were presented Wednesday evening:
♦ Cardiac Call Award: Amber Parsons, Avianna Thomas, Bethany Stotts, Cheyenne Thompson, Chris Martin, Claretta Walker, Dedra Chapman, Deeangela Jones, Jennifer Keeler, Jessica Tucker, Jonah Blackburn, Joseph Casstevens, Kristy Smyre, Krysten Turner, Patrick Pariso and Summer Kivett.
♦ Life Save Award: Amy Bednarik, Angela Hobbs, Avery Store, Cory McInnis, Danielle Ortiz, Dedra Chapman, Erin Benge, Francis Durant, Jonah Blackburn, Kaitlyn Kesler, Kim Meyer, Melvin Hill, Paul Clendenning, Ryan Brown, Sean Jordan, Shelley Adams, Sheri Hager and Thomas Pinkerton.
♦ Trauma Call Award: Alex Houston, Amy Bednarik, Angela Hobbs, Celeste Renegar, Darren Hager, Dedra Chapman, Haley Jones, Hannah Wing, Jessica Carico, Juan Martinez, Kayla Hefner, MaKenna Hall and Noah Shomette.
♦ Top Notes Awards: Adam Hardin, Alex Houston, Angallie Hatharasinghe, Ashley Myers, Caitlyn Bustle, Cameron Horne, Carlos Pena-Magos, Cheyenne Wilson, Claretta Walker, Daniel Hearn, Darren Hager, Ellen Russell, Haley Jones, Jan Nettles, Jenniffer Keeler, Jessica Carico, Juan Martinez, Katelyn Harmon, Kayla Hefner, Lindsey Davis, Matthew Franklin, Michael Eckmann, Patrick Pariso, Robby Milton, Sean Jordan, Shelley Adams, Sheri Hager, Timothy Barber, Trinity Settle and Zachary Stewart.
♦ Dr. Feelgood Award: Mikaela Kimbrough
♦ Edison Medicine Award: Summer KIvett
♦ EMS is Life Award: TJ Hall
♦ Grim Reaper Award: Krysten Turner
♦ Least QA Flag Award: Amy Bednarik
♦ Smooth Operator Award: Amanda Wallace, Lauren Fetherbay
♦ The Black Cloud Award: Cheyenne Thompson
♦ The Vampire Award: Dillon Caviness
♦ The White Cloud Award: Michael Barbaran, Daniel Hearn
♦ ECOM EMS Telecommunicator of the Year: Mark Goldman
♦ EMS Rookie of the Year: Victoria Sobol
♦ EMS Apprentice of the Year: Ashley Myers
♦ EMT of the Year: Alisha Keller
♦ Paramedic of the Year: Jamie Rambo
♦ EMS Officer of the Year: Jonah Blackburn
♦ Community Response Team Member of the Year: Analeah Killian
♦ Years of Service Awards: David Cloer, 30 years; Joshua Wallace, 25 years; Bradley Deal, Sandra Cartner (retired), 20 years; Kim Meyer (retired), 20 years; Brandy Mitchell, 10 years; Jessica Carico, Joseph (Alex) Houston, Matthew Franklin, Patrick Lowe, Sandra Venable, five years.
♦ Community Involvement Awards: Western Avenue Baptist Church, Restorative Road Ministries and Rocky Mount Church.
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