Dare County EMS celebrated seven employees who recently graduated from College of The Albemarle’s (COA) Advanced EMT to Paramedic program, an accelerated internal paramedic academy created by Dare County EMS and COA for existing staff in the agency that wanted to advance their EMS credential level.

The ceremony—which was held at 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 30, 2026 at the Dare County Administration Building in Manteo—celebrated the graduation of Jessica Ball, Kirsten “Schae” Britt, Mason Cobb, Ethan Jones, Callista “Callie” Louvros, William “Garrett” Porter, and Hunter Suter.

Attendees were welcomed by speakers including Dr. Jack Bagwell (COA President), Robin Harris (COA Dean of Health Sciences & Wellness Programs), Walter Meads (COA EMS Program Coordinator), Bobby Outten (Dare County Manager), and Chief Jennie Collins (Dare County EMS Director).

Image of College of The Albemarle EMS Program Coordinator Walter Meads and Dare County EMS Instructor Lieutenant Joshua McKenney awarding the students during the ceremony.

Normally, an Advanced EMT wanting to become a paramedic would need to attend a 12-month long program outside of their 53-hour/week work schedule. This accelerated internal program supported personnel to take these classes and perform clinical rotations as part of their work schedule, achieving a better work/life balance and achieving success in a condensed time period. These new paramedics will fill existing vacancies in their own departments, which are difficult to fill through external hiring only.

Students were enrolled in the paramedic academy from August 10, 2025 through April 10, 2026. The program consisted of greater than 1,100 hours of time invested by the students over the last eight months, which included weekly lectures and labs, hospital clinical time, field time with designated paramedic preceptors, and countless hours of studying and homework to prepare for exams—all while the students continued to work modified public safety schedules to serve their communities.

“Paramedics are vital to our communities as they are able to provide advanced life support and life-saving therapies to the sick and injured,” said Dare County EMS Director Chief Jennie Collins. “Dare County EMS is extremely proud of our graduates and thankful for their continued service and dedication to our community. Congratulations to Dare County’s newest paramedic graduates.”

Front row (from left to right): Chief Jennie Collins, Mason Cobb, Callie Louvros, Jess Ball, Ethan Jones. Back row (from left to right): Deputy Chief Terence Sheehy, Hunter Suter, Schae Britt, Garrett Porter, Lieutenant Joshua McKenney.

Image of Hunter Suter during the graduation ceremony

Image of Garrett Porter during the graduation ceremony

Image of Callie Louvros during the graduation ceremony

Image of Mason Cobb during the graduation ceremony

Image of Ethan Jones during the graduation ceremony

Image of Schae Britt during the graduation ceremony

Image of Jess Ball during the graduation ceremony

For more information about local EMS programs that are available through COA, please visit www.albemarle.edu/emsce or contact COA’s EMS program coordinator, Walter Meads, at walter_meads@albemarle.edu or 252-335-0821 ext. 2519.

For more information about Dare County EMS—including various positions that are currently available within the department—please visit DareNC.gov/EMS.