WEBSTER COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS REGISTERING FOR FALL MCC EMT CLASS

Starting this fall, three Webster County high school students will be registering in the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) class offered through the First Steps program. Originally established as a partnership between Madisonville Community College (MCC), Hopkins County Schools, and the West Area Health Education Center (AHEC), the First Steps program is in its third year and is perhaps Kentucky s first EMT dual credit program.

Webster County Area Technology Center Principal Larry Garrity, when offered to participate in this effort, recognized it as a great opportunity for Webster County students. High school administrators are expected to provide as many pathways for students to prepare them for college and careers. This option does both.

The EMT class is a six-credit hour course and the cost for tuition, textbooks and other required items will exceed $1,200. MCC, with the assistance of AHEC, will be providing tuition waivers and scholarship assistance to cover a large portion of the costs. AHEC Director Martha Pleasant notes that students will also receive funds to assist with the textbooks and required costs. AHEC welcomes Webster County to be part of this program. It is important to our mission to train people for health care related jobs in this area of Kentucky.

The EMT class qualifies students to take the national EMT test (FISDAP) once they reach age18. If successful, students can work in EMT positions and they also qualify to apply for admission to MCC s paramedic program, an associate degree program. Chief Academic Officer Dr. Deborah Cox commends all parties who came together to make this effort possible. She adds, I am especially pleased about establishing a strong EMT pathway for our area students so that they have a chance to consider the career possibilities for paramedics which we think are going to be tremendous in the coming decades.

Starting in early August and continuing through February, the students will meet for afternoon sessions in the Baptist Health Allied Health Sciences Building located on MCC s Health Sciences Campus

For interested adult students, MCC is offering an EMS 105-Emergency Medical Technician course on Monday and Thursday from 5-9 p.m. at MCC s Muhlenberg Campus. Tim Martin will be the instructor and the course will begin on Monday, August 17. For course or registration information, please contact the MCC Enrollment Center at (270) 824-8621.