As thousands of college students return to class for the fall semester, some are heading into careers where the learning and the inspiration start long before graduation. Students enrolled in Collin College’s Emergency Medical Services program are preparing for a career field that’s experienc ing growing demand across one of the fastest-growing regions in North Texas. Collin County’s continued population growth is driving a need for more first responders, including EMTs and paramedics, to serve expanding communities and emergency services agencies. Greg Cox, director of the EMS program at Collin College, said local fire and EMS leaders have been discussing personnel shortages and future staffing needs for years. “The area chiefs in meetings were talking about their demand for personnel being estimated at 200 per year for the foreseeable future,” Cox said. “So that speaks to the growth in the county.” Cox, who spent more than 30 years in emergency services and retired from the McKinney Fire Department before joining Collin College, said many graduates stay in North Texas and quickly find employment. “Our students are very highly sought after as they graduate our program,” he said. “Many of them go to work for area agencies here in Collin County.” The college has also seen increased interest in EMS careers since the COVID-19 pandemic. “Like many health care professions, we did see a spike in interest in our programs post-COVID,” Cox said. “That spike has continued on pretty much all of my classes. I have a wait list for students who still want to get in.” Inside the college’s training facilities, students practice responding to emergencies using a mock ambulance, state-of-the-art medical mannequins, and realistic patient scenarios designed to mirror real-life calls. Students practice CPR on a mannequin during a scenario as part of their training in the program. Cox said the goal is to expose students to situations they are likely to encounter in the field while allowing them to learn in a controlled environment. “We want to immerse our students in the most realistic scenarios that they can experience,” he said. “We want them to do it in a safe environment where it’s okay for them to make mistakes and to be corrected, learn from those mistakes and carry that knowledge with them forward as they enter their careers.” Students train on everything from stroke and seizure responses to trauma situations and emergency childbirth. For Frisco resident Catelyn Barton, the program offered a direct path to a career she has wanted for years. “I definitely knew I couldn’t sit in a classroom and go on to work in a nine-to-five,” Barton said. “I needed to do something that was important to me and that I knew would create a positive impact on my community.” Barton graduated from high school last year and said she was looking for something more hands-on than a traditional four-year college experience. “To break the social norms that you need to go to a four-year college at least to have a successful life. And it’s just not true. I know that what I’m going to be doing in my future is important,” she said. The program’s realistic simulations have also helped students understand how quickly emergencies can unfold. “I would definitely say the most eye-opening thing is the fact that we have to know how to give birth in an emergency whenever a woman’s going into labor,” she said. “There’s a lot that can happen to somebody in the blink of an eye. So it’s just learning how to manage it.” A student interacts with an actor as part of aa mock emergency scenario involving an infant. Fellow student Greyson Blanchard said the need for first responders is especially apparent in his hometown of Celina, one of the state’s fastest-growing cities. “Celina has just boomed in growth,” Blanchard said. “With more people comes greater responsibility on just the EMS and fire and police. So getting more jobs and just getting people ready to fill those positions is super important.” Blanchard graduated from high school shortly after the pandemic and initially attended a traditional college to play football. But after volunteering with a local church and searching for ways to serve others, he returned home and enrolled in the EMS program. “I really fell in love with giving back to my community,” he said. “I’ve just always tried to find jobs that I could do that, and I think the fire service and EMS is a really good way to be out in the community and help people.” Collin College also works with local school districts through a dual-credit EMT program, allowing some high school students to begin training before graduation. Cox said the program reflects a growing interest among young people seeking alternatives to a traditional four-year degree while pursuing careers that offer immediate opportunities and meaningful work. “To become a first responder, you need to have the caring heart, the giving heart, and the selfless heart,” Cox said. “There is so much reward that you get from this career, knowing that you made a difference in someone’s life.” To learn more about the program and how to enroll, click here. ...read more read less