Annually, Virginia's 11 Regional EMS Councils conduct Regional EMS Awards programs, hold recognition ceremonies and publicize regional winners in their respective regions. This statewide regional recognition honors the exceptional contributions that members of Virginia's EMS system make in their communities and helps them to be more visible to the people they serve. Winners in each region are automatically nominated for consideration for the Governor's EMS Awards to be presented in November at the annual Statewide EMS Symposium.

Since the concept of the regional EMS awards became the precursor to the Governor's EMS Awards in 2004, the Western Virginia EMS Council has been very fortunate to have several regional winners go on to receive statewide recognition by winning Governor's Awards!

Below is a list of individuals who won awards in Montgomery County.

The Regional Award to the Outstanding Pre-Hospital Educator is given to a provider who exemplifies outstanding teaching and leadership qualities while participating as an educator in an EMS program. The recipient must have coordinated or consistently demonstrated excellence and a dedication to the education of pre-hospital EMS providers as an instructor, coordinator or adjunct faculty in an EMS program for at least two years.

This year's recipient is dedicated to advancement of the stature of EMS education as a profession and has gained recognition as one of the most respected leaders in EMS education in Virginia. She served as a Virginia representative to the National Scope of Practice Stakeholders Committee and as a participant at the National EMS Education Standards stakeholders meeting. She was instrumental in the development and continuation of the EMS Educator track at the Virginia EMS Symposium, the second largest EMS education conference in the US. In 2008, she was awarded the National Association of EMS Educator's "Hero's Award" that is given annually to one Educator throughout the Untied States for being a "hero that walks among us." This 2010 Regional Award to the Outstanding EMS Pre-Hospital Educator is presented to Deborah "Debbie" T. Akers from Christiansburg.

A nurse who exemplifies outstanding service in emergency medical services with knowledge and performance of EMS nursing skills and high standards of cooperation and leadership with other EMS personnel and agencies is the criteria for the next award.

This year's recipient has been a registered nurse for over 25 years, currently working in the Mother Baby Suite at Carilion New River Valley Medical Center. She has tirelessly dedicated herself to educating EMS providers on a topic that is both stressful and challenging to many. Whether it is obstetrical emergencies, neonatal care or pediatric emergencies, she has the ability to make students and providers feel more at ease in handling these patient populations. She has a passion for teaching both in the classroom and clinical setting and while never having been an EMS provider, she has a knack for also teaching new providers the true meaning of empathy in EMS. Whether it be the first minute of a child's life in your hands or working with the parents of a SIDS baby, nobody is able to get the point across on how to cope and deal with these situations better than the recipient of the 2010 Regional Award to the Nurse with Outstanding Contribution to EMS - Angie Absher from Montgomery County.

The Regional Scholarship for Outstanding Contribution to EMS by a High School Senior is a competitive $1000 scholarship awarded to a high school senior who has been affiliated with an EMS agency within the Western Virginia EMS region for at least six months and who is currently enrolled or will be enrolled in an institution of higher learning or accredited ALS training program in the coming year.

This year's scholarship goes to Kerri Nicole Altizer of Montgomery County. A 2010 graduate of Auburn High School, Kerri will be attending Queens University in Charlotte, NC, in the fall pursuing her degree in Nursing. Kerri has been raised in a family that has dedicated their life to fire and EMS. She listed her grandfather and father as her inspiration in becoming involved in EMS. She currently holds the office of Junior Captain for Christiansburg Rescue Squad and was awarded the Junior Member of the Year award as well as the award for answering the most calls by a Junior Member (207 calls). She has excelled academically and athletically as well. Maintaining a 'B' average, she has participated in Fellowship of Christiansburg Athletes (FCA), Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and the Latin Dance club, has been an active member of the volleyball, basketball and track and field teams and was awarded the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in Volleyball.

She was recently awarded the President's Volunteer Service Award from President Barack Obama.