Northeast Mississippi Community College

« Back to Recent News

NEMCC, Baptist Memorial Hospital & Priority Ambulance celebrate first class of Accelerated EMT program

by Michael H. Miller

BOONEVILLE, Miss. -- (07/23/2025) — Northeast Mississippi Community College's Office of Continuing Education, in partnership with Baptist Memorial Hospital and Priority Ambulance, celebrated the graduation of its first Accelerated Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) class on Friday, July 11 in the Holliday Hall auditorium on the college's Booneville campus.

Eleven students from across Mississippi completed the rigorous six-week hybrid program, which combined daily online instruction from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. with in-person skills check-offs at Northeast every other Friday.

Northeast's accelerated EMT program was designed to meet the growing need for trained emergency medical personnel across the state and nation, offering a fast-track path to becoming a certified EMT.

"We are pleased to partner with Baptist Memorial Hospital and Priority Ambulance to provide the training for EMT personnel," said Northeast president Dr. Ricky G. Ford. "This is a much-needed sector in our healthcare workforce."

In addition, the program's unique format attracted students from a wide geographic area, thanks to its flexibility of the program and its short nature with students completing their training and being able to sit for the National Registry in as little as six to eight weeks.

"The summer pilot program was a great success in multiple ways," said Northeast Continuing Education Director Phyllis Colson. "We discovered ways to improve the program, new techniques to assist the students with comprehension, testing, and preparing for the National Registry exam."

Graduates of the inaugural Accelerated EMT class include:

  • Andrea Alsup - Magnolia Ambulance (Noxubee County)
  • Payton Arnold - Priority Ambulance (Prentiss County)
  • Cayson Capwell - Priority Ambulance (Union County)
  • Robin Eaton - Priority Ambulance (Prentiss County)
  • Paris Griffin - Priority Ambulance (Lee County)
  • Shane King - Baptist Ambulance Union County
  • Amber Martin - Magnolia Ambulance (Noxubee County)
  • James Shadburn - Priority Ambulance (Prentiss County)
  • Kymani Smith
  • Kier Washington - Priority Ambulance (Union County)
  • Star Washington - Priority Ambulance (Lafayette County)

"The support and collaboration with Baptist Ambulance and Priority Ambulance was outstanding," said Colson. "Being able to get a view of the everyday challenges employees deal with in EMS and the use of the skills outside of the classroom, meetings with management to discuss new ideas, address concerns, and sharing updates on a regular basis, made the partnership enjoyable and successful. We look forward to the upcoming year with our new partners."

Meeting an Urgent Need

Across the United States, emergency medical services are facing a critical shortage of EMTs and paramedics.

According to national data from the American Ambulance Association, many EMS agencies are struggling to recruit and retain personnel due to the high demands of the job and burnout intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic.

EMTs serve a vital role in the healthcare system, providing lifesaving pre-hospital care, responding to 911 calls, and transporting patients in emergency situations.

Programs like Northeast's accelerated EMT course aim to fast-track capable individuals into the field without sacrificing the high standards required of emergency medical professionals.

"When we envisioned this academy, NEMCC was the clear choice. It is where many of us at Priority got our start," said JD Horn, Director of Public Relations for Baptist Ambulance. "This partnership represents a meaningful way to give back to a community that has long supported us, while expanding our relationship with one of Mississippi's leading educational institutions. We're grateful to President Ford and the entire NEMCC team for their collaboration and commitment to developing the next generation of EMS professionals."

For more information about upcoming EMT programs through the Office of Continuing Education at Northeast, visit www.nemcc.edu or call 662-720-7296.

--NEMCC--

Information about Northeast Mississippi Community College

Northeast Mississippi Community College is a leading educational institution that provides comprehensive academic, technical, and workforce training programs to empower students and promote lifelong learning. With a commitment to excellence, Northeast Mississippi Community College fosters a supportive environment that prepares individuals for success in their chosen fields.

For more information about Northeast Mississippi Community College, visit http://www.nemcc.edu.

Media Attachments

NEMCC, in partnership with Baptist Memorial Hospital and Priority Ambulance, celebrated the graduation of its first Accelerated Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) class on Friday, July 11. Eleven students from across Mississippi completed the rigorous six-week hybrid program, which combined daily online instruction from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. with in-person skills check-offs at Northeast every other Friday. Graduates of the Accelerated EMT class include: Andrea Alsup – Magnolia Ambulance (Noxubee County), Payton Arnold – Priority Ambulance (Prentiss County), Cayson Capwell – Priority Ambulance (Union County), Robin Eaton – Priority Ambulance (Prentiss County), Paris Griffin – Priority Ambulance (Lee County), Shane King – Baptist Ambulance Union County, Amber Martin – Magnolia Ambulance (Noxubee County), James Shadburn – Priority Ambulance (Prentiss County), Kymani Smith, Kier Washington – Priority Ambulance (Union County) and Star Washington – Priority Ambulance (Lafayette County).

Copyright © 2025 Merit Pages, Inc. • All Rights Reserved. • Terms of Service • Privacy Policy • Opt Out