Annual Awards Descriptions and Hall of Fame

Richard W. Vomacka Student Speaker Competition

Initially introduced at the 2002 Annual Conference, The Richard W. Vomacka Student Speaker Competition is named for an NCEMSF mentor who passed away in October 2001. This symposium is a chance for student lecturers to showcase their presentation skills and earn bragging rights for their collegiate EMS organization. The competition is judged on a speaker's ability to deliver a relevant high-quality seminar to his/her peers - points are awarded based on strength of the submitted abstract, quality of the delivered presentation and audiovisual materials. See the annual conference Web site for submission criteria and deadlines.

2002 - David Rand (George Washington University)
2003 - Christopher DeRienzo, Matthew I. Harris (Brandeis University)
2004 - S. Corey Pitts (Virginia Tech)
2005 - Jill Neiman (Muhlenberg College)
2006 - Evan Silverstein (University of Pennsylvania)
2007 - Holly Emmanuel (Pennsylvania State University)
2008 - Andrew Harris (Rochester Institute of Technology)
2009 - Vincent Storie (Brandeis University)
2010 - Sandra Bedoya, Timothy Laughlin, Michael Smith (Syracuse University)
2011 - Daniel J. Johnson (Pennsylvania State University)
2012 - Sean McMullen (Arizona State University) and Bartholomew Grabman (Willamette University)
2013 - Timothy Bach (Carnegie Mellon University)
2014 - Ariel Low (Dartmouth College)
2015 - Noa Yee and Montane Silverman (Tufts University)
2016 - Katherine Goldsmith (Wellesley College/MIT)
2017 - Christopher Anderson and Matthew Delancy (Villanova University)
2018 - Thomas Goode (Carnegie Mellon University)
2019 - Catherine Gibbs (Temple University)
2020 - Allison Leopold (Macalester College)
2022 - Lily Nong and Andrew Bober (University of Pittsburgh)
2023 - Eric Grin and Julia Perugini (Tufts University)
2024 - Shabbir Bohri (University of Texas at Dallas)

Collegiate EMS Week Celebration of the Year

Held annually the second full week in November, Collegiate EMS Week is a week-long recognition and celebration of campus based EMS and provides an annual opportunity for campus-based EMS organizations to highlight their activities and educate their communities. National Collegiate CPR Day kicks off Collegiate EMS Week each year and is designed to educate as many college students as possible in the basic principles of CPR on a single day. NCEMSF receives reports of creative activities celebrating the week, but wants to hear more. Share what your group did to celebrate Campus EMS Week and your organization could win bragging rights. There is no faking it; verifiable documentation of what your group did to honor this special week is needed. Send your press releases, news articles, pictures, public service announcements, and other related materials. Submissions are judged on the basis of activity creativity, appropriateness, and positive exposure generated.

Submissions in this category at times may overlap with the criteria for Collegiate EMS Video of the Year and Collegiate EMS Community Engagement Program of the Year. The NCEMSF Board reserves the right to take a submission made under this category and recognize it under one of the other two categories if the Board decides that one of the other two categories is more appropriate, or if moving the submission to one of the other categories would offer a better opportunity for the submission to receive recognition.

2007 - Boston University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2009 - Ryerson University
2010 - University of Dayton
2011 - Cornell University
2012 - University of Dayton
2013 - University of Dayton
2014 - Johns Hopkins University
2015 - Cornell University
2016 - University of Dayton
2017 - Johns Hopkins Univeristy
2018 - University of Pittsburgh
2019 - University of Dayton
2020 - Harvard University
2021 - University of Dayton
2022 - University of Texas at Dallas
2023 - University of Delaware
2024 - University of Texas at Dallas

Collegiate EMS Video of the Year

Collegiate EMS Video of the Year acknowledges the video that best embodies the spirit of collegiate EMS and the NCEMSF mission. The rules are simple: The video must be wholly created by members of a campus-based EMS organization. The content of the video must embody the goals, traditions, and spirit of collegiate EMS. Embarrassing, unsafe, indecent and illegal content is prohibited. The video should be no longer than three minutes including intro/pre-roll and credits. Only one entry is allowed per campus EMS organization per year. The video should be DVD quality or higher and should not require special codecs to play. Videos will be featured during annual conference activities. To submit a video, provide either a link to a high-resolution copy available for download or mail a physical DVD or USB drive containing a high-resolution copy. It is not necessary to send both electronic and physical submissions.

Submissions in this category at times may overlap with the criteria for Collegiate EMS Week Celebration of the Year and Collegiate EMS Community Engagement Program of the Year. The NCEMSF Board reserves the right to take a submission made under this category and recognize it under one of the other two categories if the Board decides that one of the other two categories is more appropriate, or if moving the submission to one of the other categories would offer a better opportunity for the submission to receive recognition.

2008 - Emory University
2009 - Montclair State University
2010 - Pennsylvania State University
2011 - University of Delaware
2012 - Emory University
2013 - video University of California - Los Angeles (44.55 MB)
2014 - video Emory University (35.74 MB)
2015 - video Rice University (38.17 MB)
2016 - video University of Vermont (30.29 MB)
2017 - video University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (32.00 MB)
2018 - video Embry Riddle Aeronautical University (29.85 MB)
2019 - video University of California - Los Angeles (44.09 MB)
2020 - video Virginia Tech Rescue Squad (26.66 MB)
2021 - video Virginia Tech Rescue Squad (31.35 MB)
2022 - video Embry Riddle Aeronautical University (45.75 MB)
2023 - The George Washington University
2024 - Virginia Tech Rescue Squad

Collegiate EMS Community Engagement Program of the Year

This award recognizes efforts by the campus EMS group who had the most creative, effective, and/or innovative program or initiative for engaging with their community. The activity can encompass a variety of outreach methods, including social media, PSAs, websites, or other activities. Judging will be based on the creativity of the messaging, production quality, accuracy of information, and relevance of the topic area to collegiate EMS. For the nomination, please include the following:

Link(s) to the applicable web content, or attachments of copies of non-web content.
Information on the effectiveness of the campaign, if available. This can include statistics from social media, websites, or videos. It can also include practical outcomes (for example, in a campaign to register people for emergency alerts, the increase in alert subscribers after the campaign).
A written self-evaluation of the campaign, to include strengths, weaknesses, lessons learned, and specific actions to take with future campaigns to improve them.

Submissions in this category at times may overlap with the criteria for Collegiate EMS Video of the Year and Collegiate EMS Week Celebration of the Year. The NCEMSF Board reserves the right to take a submission made under this category and recognize it under one of the other two categories if the Board decides that one of the other two categories is more appropriate, or if moving the submission to one of the other categories would offer a better opportunity for the submission to receive recognition.

2020 - University of Dayton
2021 - University of Pennsylvania
2022 - Virginia Tech
2023 - University of California - Riverside
2024 - University of Pennsylvania

Collegiate EMS Research Poster of the Year (sponsored by JCEMS)

This award recognizes excellence in campus based EMS research and promotes advancements in the field through academic research. Winners are selected from among the submitted posters for the annual JCEMS poster competition at the annual conference.

2022 - Enzo G. Plaitano, Bianca Pate, Kevin M. Ryan (Boston University ) - Developing a Curriculum to Enable Emergency Medical Technicians to Assist Paramedics With Advanced Interventions
2023 - Margaret Dickey (St. Olaf College) - Presumptive Diagnosis of Alcohol as Etiology of Altered Mental Status
2024 - Abigail Schipper and Sabrina Liu (MIT) - Does the Simulated Sex of the CPR Training Manikin Affect CPR Quality?

Collegiate EMS Advisor of the Year

This award honors a faculty advisor, college administrator or medical director who has contributed significantly to the success of campus-based EMS providers and their organizations. Recipients excel at mentoring student collegiate EMS members and dedicate extraordinary time and energy to educating and providing all types of support.

1999 - Jack Lynn (University of Delaware)
2000 - Park “sparky” Knight (Texas A&M University)
2001 - Noah Reiter (Rice University)
2002 - Don W. Clark (University of New England)
2004 - Debbie Wilson (Loyola Marymount University)
2005 - Michele Helms (Santa Clara University)
2006 - Mary O’Brien, MD (Columbia University)
2007 - Lee Potter (Franklin Pierce College)
2008 - Constance Richards, EdD, RN (Saint Anselm College)
2009 - Ronald Roth, MD (University of Pittsburgh)
2010 - Bill Ballard (University of Vermont)
2011 - Michael Newton (University of Wisconsin – Madison)
2012 - Paul Smyth (Syracuse University)
2013 - Daniel Maas (Cornell University)
2014 - Mark Forgues (MIT and Harvard)
2015 - Lisa Basgall (Rice University)
2016 - Eugene Janda (University of Pennsylvania)
2017 - Brian Brauer (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)
2018 - Jason Roach (Richmond University)
2019 - J.V. Nable, MD (Georgetown University)
2020 - Debra Poaster, MD (Brandeis University)
2021 - Ross Carbone (John Carroll University)
2022 - J. Dominic Singh (University of Massachusetts - Amherst)
2023 - Kevin Crisp (St. Olaf College)
2024 - Sheila Elliott (University of Texas at Dallas)

Collegiate EMS Provider of the Year

Nominations for Collegiate EMS provider of the Year awards are accepted in two categories: Collegiate EMS Organization Leadership and Heroism and Valor(*) Criteria for nominations for the Collegiate EMS Organization Leadership category include: documented outstanding leadership to a campus-based EMS organization such as through assuming a leadership position, planning and carrying out significant projects for the benefit of the campus (i.e. safety and health promotion and education projects, campus EMS organizational development projects, public relations, etc.) and significantly contributing to the success of the organization. Leadership in and service to other campus and community organizations can be considered, but are secondary to service to the campus EMS organization. Service should be exemplary and well beyond the scope of routine duty. Letters of recommendation and support from academic deans, campus administrators, EMS medical directors, and EMS organization advisors should be included. Criteria for nominations for the Collegiate EMS Heroism and Valor category include documented evidence of singular acts of heroism and valor in the line of duty as a campus EMS provider. The award is not made for acts resulting in saving a life or lives, but to individuals for acts of heroism, resourcefulness, and skill in saving or attempting to save a life at great personal risk to their own. Copies of newspaper clippings and certified transcripts of media accounts should be included. Letters from police chiefs, fire chiefs, hospital officials, and campus officials attesting to the acts of heroism and valor should also be included.

1997 - Donald R. Woodyard (Cedarville College)
1998 - Geoffrey C. Bartlett (Tufts University)
1999 - Noah Reiter (Rice University)
2000 - Steven W. Zils (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)
2001 - Peter P. Pascucci (University of Rhode Island)
2002 - Eric S. MaryEa (University of Delaware)
2003 - Joshua A. Marks (Columbia University) and Eric H. Beck (John Carroll University)
2004 - Ana (Papasin) Matthews (Santa Clara University)
2005 - Seth J. Komansky (Franklin Pierce College)
2006 - Jeffrey A. Levine (Oneonta State University)
2007 - Andrew S. Mener (University of Pennsylvania)
2008 - Shad Ahmed (University of Rhode Island)
2009 - Kevin Smith (University of Pennsylvania)
2010 - John Casey (University of Massachusetts – Lowell)
2011 - Jason Smith (Clark University)
2012 - Kush Das (George Washington University)
2013 - Richard Jamesley (University of Richmond)
2014 - Benjamin Abo*
2015 - Ryan Johnson (Virginia Tech)
2016 - Christopher Luccarelli (Columbia University)
2017 - Kelsey Costello (SUNY Geneseo)
2018 - Oren Cohn (Rochester Institute of Technology)
2019 - Paul Halliday (Case Western Reserve University)
2020 - Abhijay Murugesan (University of Arizona)
2021 - Alice Sardarian (Columbia University)
2022 - Zo Bly (Columbia University)
2023 - Joey Alderson (Western Illinois University)
2024 - Ananya VadlaKonda (Case Western Reserve University)

Collegiate EMS Organization of the Year

This award recognizes an EMS organization that has demonstrated outstanding service to its campus. This award is frequently a result of marked improvements in staffing, equipment, or level of service provided. Commonly, these groups hold the NCEMSF Striving for Excellence verification. This award can be self-nominated from within the group, or can be the result of an NCEMSF officer's experience interacting with a particular group (especially during a site visit or outreach program). Either way, as with all NCEMSF awards, supporting documentation and references are needed from the school's administration (advisor, dean, or other school official).

1998 - University of Vermont
1999 - University of Dayton
2000 - Rice University
2001 - Villanova University
2002 - Loyola Marymount University
2003 - University of Dayton
2004 - Pennsylvania State University
2005 - SUNY Geneseo First Response
2006 - Harpur’s Ferry Student Volunteer Ambulance Service (Binghamton University)
2007 - University of Massachusetts – Lowell
2008 - Tulane University EMS
2009 - Columbia University
2010 - DeSales University
2011 - University of Pennsylvania
2012 - Harpur’s Ferry Student Volunteer Ambulance Service (Binghamton University)
2013 - Stony Brook Volunteer Ambulance Corps
2014 - College of Charleston EMS
2015 - Five Quad Volunteer Ambulance Squad (SUNY Albany)
2016 - University of Richmond Ambulance
2017 - University of Dayton
2018 - Fordham University
2019 - Rice University
2020 - Harpur’s Ferry Student Volunteer Ambulance Service (Binghamton University)
2021 - Case Western Reserve University
2022 - University of Delaware
2023 - Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
2024 - Rowan University

George J. Koenig, Jr. DO Service Award

Named for NCEMSF President, George Koenig, this award is presented annually by the NCEMSF Board of Directors to an individual for distinguished service to the Foundation or extraordinary support thereof. The recipient may be a student provider, alumnus, campus administrator or anyone else involved, directly or indirectly, in collegiate EMS.

1999 - Scott C. Savett
2000 - Richard W. Vomacka
2001 - Joshua A. Marks (Columbia University)
2002 - Stu Rosenhaus (Brooklyn College) and Jack J. Van Cleve (Texas A&M University)
2003 - Karolina Schabses
2004 - Anna Johnson (University of Vermont)
2005 - Eric S. MaryEa (University of Delaware) and David Strauss (Duke University)
2006 - Timothy J. McMichael (Juniata College)
2007 - Michael T. Hilton (Columbia University)
2008 - NCEMSF Board of Directors
2009 - Lt. John F. Washington (University of Pennsylvania)
2010 - Benjamin Lawner, DO (University of Maryland)
2011 - Douglas R. Buchan (University of Iowa)
2012 - Jennifer D. Siegel
2013 - Joshua Moskovitz, MD, MPH
2014 - Ian Feldman and Michael Guttenberg, DO
2015 - David Schwartzman (Physio Control)
2016 - Gates Richards, MEd (NOLS)
2017 - David Afienko (Massachusetts Regional Coordinator)
2018 - Nicholas Friedman
2019 - Mark Pinchalk
2020 - Yoni Litwok, MD
2021 - Zachary Matuzsan, DO
2022 - All Frontline Collegiate EMS Providers During the COVID-19 Pandemic
2023 - Bruce Fairfield
2024 - Joshua Glick, MD

Annual Skills Classic Winners

2006 - BLS: Muhlenberg College; ALS: Binghamton University
2007 - BLS: University of Windsor; ALS: Binghamton University
2008 - BLS: Texas A&M; ALS: Binghamton University
2009 - BLS: University of Delaware; ALS: Duke University
2010 - BLS: McMaster University; ALS: Carleton College
2011 - BLS: Texas A&M; ALS: SUNY Stony Brook
2012 - BLS: Cornell University; ALS: Virginia Tech
2013 - BLS: McMaster University; ALS: Binghamton University
2014 - BLS: UCLA EMS; ALS: Binghamton University
2015 - BLS: University of Richmond EMS; ALS: Virginia Tech Rescue Squad
2016 - BLS: Virginia Tech Rescue Squad; ALS: University of Pittsburgh
2017 - BLS: Virginia Tech Rescue Squad; ALS: University of Pittsburgh
2018 - BLS: University of Vermont; ALS: Virginia Tech Rescue Squad
2019 - BLS: Texas A&M; ALS: Virginia Tech Rescue Squad
2020 - BLS: University at Albany; ALS: University of Vermont
2022 - BLS: UCLA; ALS: St. Michael's Rescue Squad
2023 - BLS: Binghamton University; ALS: University of Vermont
2024 - BLS: Washington University - St. Louis; ALS: Binghamton University

Collegiate EMS Web Site of the Year

This award is no longer offered.

In effect from 1999 through the 2019 Conference, this award recognized the campus EMS group with the most creative, user-friendly, and informative Web site. Judging was based on accuracy and currency of information, appropriateness of information, utility of information to your members and the public, aesthetic appeal of the Web site, organization and flow of the site, and bandwidth utilization.

1999 - Tufts University
2000 - Villanova University
2001 - Georgetown University
2002 - Rice University
2003 - Cornell University
2004 - Villanova University
2005 - Columbia University
2006 - Villanova University
2007 Oneonta State University
2008 - George Washington University
2009 - University of Pennsylvania
2010 - Virginia Tech
2011 - Rochester Institute of Technology
2012 - Syracuse University
2013 - St. Michael's Fire and Rescue
2014 - Rice University
2015 - Virginia Tech
2016 - University of Massachusetts - Lowell
2017 - Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2018 - University of Pittsburgh
2019 - University of Pennsylvania

Annual Awards Descriptions and Hall of Fame

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