ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) — A state grant is offering students interested in emergency medical services an opportunity to achieve their goals.
Bay College is receiving a $349,000 training grant from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
“We offer an EMT certificate and a two-year associate’s degree in paramedics,” said Cindy Carter, Vice President of Business, Technology, Allied Health and Workforce Training at Bay College. “We’re really excited about the use of these funds to support and advance students looking to pursue a career in paramedics.”
Carter says a portion of the grant will be used to upgrade some of the equipment in Bay’s state of the art EMT lab. However, the majority of the funds will go toward scholarships for students enrolling in the program this fall.
“We’re dedicating a good portion of this funding directly to the students to offset the cost for tuition, fees, clinical costs, and books,” she explained. “It’s a really good time for a student that’s interested in exploring paramedics to take advantage of this scholarship opportunity.”
By helping those students, the grant also benefits the community, as Carter says the demand for qualified paramedics is extremely high.
“We know both locally as well as regionally, there’s a shortage of EMT paramedics in the field,” she said. “That directly impacts all of us in those emergency situations, so we’re really excited about this grant and what it’s going to be able to do to fill those jobs that are needed.”
Carter says Bay’s hands-on lab is the ideal setting to learn the critical skills necessary to become an emergency medical technician. It features simulations, highly advanced mannequins, and an ambulance.
“A lot of students right now are looking for that hands-on training to enter the world of work, and this program is perfectly aligned for that,” said Carter.
To learn more about Bay College’s EMT program and the available scholarships, visit baycollege.edu/admissions.
