Hayes Family Establishes Endowment to Support EMS Students

Thomas and Linda Hayes know the importance of public service, especially those who work in emergency medical services. Their daughter, Jennifer, and her husband, Joe Wincklhofer, both dedicated their lives to careers as first responders.

“Public safety has always been something my parents deeply cared about. They are strong advocates for those who dedicate their lives to protecting and serving others, and they have tremendous respect for the men and women who answer the call when their communities need them most,” Jennifer said.

Jennifer and Joe both spent many years working in the fire and EMS services. Joe is a nationally registered paramedic and is the Emergency Medical Science Program Coordinator at Richmond Community College.

On Oct. 22, the RichmondCC Foundation announced the establishment of the Hayes Family Emergency Medical Science Endowed Scholarship in honor of their daughter and son-in-law and to support this critical sector of public service. This scholarship will be awarded annually to two students from Richmond, Scotland or Moore counties enrolled in the Emergency Medical Science Program who are in good standing with the college.  It will also provide an award for one student in each paramedic class who demonstrates leadership, supports his or her peers both in and out of the classroom and excels with application and practice of knowledge and skills during both clinicals and classroom instruction.

“This scholarship came to fruition because Mr. and Mrs. Hayes did not want the cost of the Emergency Medical Science program at RichmondCC to be a barrier for anyone wishing to advance their current skill set or receive a certification or a degree in this specialized and in-demand field,” said Dr. Wendy Kelly Jordan, Associate Vice President for Development. “We are grateful to the Hayes Family for this gift as it will benefit students who desire to serve for years to come.”

Over the last 10 years, the demand for EMS professionals has grown. Emergency call volumes have surged 30 to 50 percent across the local region as the population ages and the acute medical emergencies rise. Looking at the next 10 years, the U.S. Bureau of Labor projects EMS employment to grow more than 6 percent.

As the need reaches historic highs, the EMS workforce is facing severe strain. Across central North Carolina, county and municipal EMS agencies face vacancy rates of 15 to 25 percent leaving ambulance shifts that are difficult to fill, placing more pressure on active employees.

“Completing an EMT course and advancing through hundreds of clinical, simulation and class hours to become a paramedic requires incredible personal sacrifice,” Joe said.Our students are often working adults with families, balancing late night study and working day shifts. The cost of tuition, clinical uniforms, materials and testing fees are often one of the obstacles keeping dedicated people from walking across the stage and onto an ambulance.”

For this reason, the Hayes family is grateful to support current and future EMS students at RichmondCC.

“It means a great deal to our family that this endowment will help students pursue a career in EMS. We see it as an opportunity to support those who feel called to serve others and to help ensure that future generations have the training and resources they need to make a difference,” Jennifer said.

Give Today

There are many ways to give to the RichmondCC Foundation and provide life-changing support to students. Contact Dr. Wendy Kelly Jordan at (910) 410-1807 or wkjordan@richmondcc.edu.