ANNUAL AWARDS

KEMSA's annual awards are a way for KEMSA to honor both individuals and organizations who have made a significant contribution to the EMS profession in the past year.

Each year during its annual conference in August, KEMSA honors individuals and organizations in Kansas who have made significant contributions to EMS through various means. There are several individual and organizational categories. For complete details about the awards or to make a nomination, view the information below.

Award Information:

• All award nominations for 2026 must be submitted electronically here by April 10.
  
• Award forms are available all year, except the last few months before the annual conference to allow time for winner selection.
• Nominees will be notified after the nomination deadline.
• Award selection will be made by a special committee of EMS Professionals outside the state of Kansas.
• Award finalists will be honored at the annual KEMSA Conference and Expo.
• An individual may only receive an award in the same award category once every three years and an organization may only receive an award in the same organizational award category once every three years, with the exception of the President’s Award. Both individuals and organizations may only be nominated in a single category each year. 
  
• View the full KEMSA Awards Policies.

If you have questions about any of the awards, contact Kari Presley with KEMSA.

ALS PROVIDER OF THE YEAR 

Criteria: Kansas AEMT or Paramedic who has significantly contributed to EMS at the community, state and/or national level.
Eligibility:  ALS Provider of the Year - Any AEMT or Paramedic whose primary responsibility is providing direct patient care.
Paramedic of the Year - Any Kansas paramedic whose primary responsibility is providing direct patient care.  Kansas winners will be submitted to NAEMT the next year for consideration for the Paramedic of the Year Award.

Your nomination statement should include information on how the nominee:

• Provides superior patient care;
• Is an effective advocate for patients and their families;
• Works with peers to foster a positive work environment;
• Demonstrates professionalism in interacting with patients, their families and other medical professionals;
• Demonstrates his/her commitment to continuing professional education; and
• Any other relevant information provided in support of the nominee.

BLS PROVIDER OF THE YEAR 

Criteria: Kansas EMR or EMT who has significantly contributed to EMS at the community, state and/or national level.
Eligibility:  BLS Provider of the Year - Any EMR or EMT whose primary responsibility is providing direct patient care.
Paramedic of the Year - Any Kansas paramedic whose primary responsibility is providing direct patient care.  Kansas winners will be submitted to NAEMT the next year for consideration for the EMT of the Year Award.

Your nomination statement should include information on how the nominee:

• Provides superior patient care;
• Is an effective advocate for patients and their families;
• Works with peers to foster a positive work environment;
• Demonstrates professionalism in interacting with patients, their families and other medical professionals;
• Demonstrates his/her commitment to continuing professional education; and
• Any other relevant information provided in support of the nominee.

DONALD E. WHITE EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR 

Criteria: Outstanding educator of initial or continuing EMS education.
Eligibility:  Any Kansas educator who is recognized by the Kansas Board of EMS to conduct initial courses of instruction or continuing education instruction. Kansas winner will be submitted to NAEMT the next year for consideration for the Educator of the Year Award.

Your nomination statement should include information on how the nominee:

• Consistently demonstrates his/her commitment to providing high quality, professional education for EMS practitioners;
• Serves as an outstanding role model for EMS practitioners in the classroom and in the community;
• Effectively mentors EMS students at all stages of their professional development;
• Introduces and incorporates innovative approaches and tools in the classroom to enhance students’ learning experiences;
• Contributes and participates in the development of education content that expands the body of quality EMS curriculum; and
• Any other relevant information provided in support of the nominee.

MILITARY MEDIC OF THE YEAR 

Criteria: A military medic* who demonstrates excellence in the performance of military emergency medicine, with their primary role being that of theater patient care.
Definition/Eligibility:  *Military medic – Any MOS qualified active, reserve or National Guard U.S. Army Medic, Navy Corpsman or Air Force Medic.  Kansas winner will be submitted to NAEMT the next year for consideration for the Military Medic of the Year Award.

Your nomination statement should include information on how the nominee demonstrates:

• Excellence in providing trauma care to US casualties on the battlefield;
• Leadership in training and educating US military personnel and coalition forces in PHTLS and TCCC components; and
• Leadership in helping to enable the delivery of prehospital medical trauma care in the military in austere and dangerous environments with no immediate physician oversight.

ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR 

Criteria: Administrator who has made a significant contribution to EMS Administration on a local, state or national level.
Eligibility: Any EMS administrator whose primary responsibility is the direction of individuals involved in the delivery of prehospital care.  This is a KEMSA only award.

PEDIATRIC PROVIDER OF THE YEAR  

Criteria: Outstanding individual(s) or group that has shown excellence and dedication to children through pediatric emergency care and/or family centered care.
Eligibility: Any healthcare provider, healthcare organization, healthcare association, educator, or child advocate.  This is a KEMSA only award sponsored by EMSC.

PHYSICIAN OF THE YEAR

Criteria: Offered to recognize any Kansas licensed physician who provides commendable service to the benefit of EMS in Kansas. The physician can be an Emergency Department physician, serving Medical Director or any other physician who has provided a positive impact to Kansas EMS.
Eligibility: Any Kansas licensed physician.  This is a KEMSA only award.

EMS SUPPORT PERSON OF THE YEAR

Criteria: Offered to recognize one of the many individuals whose efforts enhance EMS in Kansas through their actions as a First Responder, Nurse, Dispatcher, Law Enforcement Officer, Pilot, Supervisor or other individual who would not fit into the other categories for individual recognition.
Eligibility: The nomination can speak to either a continuous positive effort that enhances the quality of EMS or can speak to a specific individual event.  This is a KEMSA only award.

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Criteria: Individual whose contributions to pre-hospital care have been consistent and long lasting, representing in effect, a lifetime of outstanding service to the profession and to the public.
Eligibility: Any Kansas Certified EMS professional.  This is a KEMSA only award.

Presidential Leadership Award

Criteria: KEMSA member who most helps KEMSA grow and progress
Eligibility: Any KEMSA member
Selected by: KEMSA President 

Organizational Award Descriptions and Criteria

Note: Organizations can only be nominated under one category each year.

COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD

Criteria: Awarded to an individual or team who has been involved in the development of innovative approaches to injury / illness prevention or EMS awareness within the community.
Eligibility: Any Kansas Certified EMS attendant or EMS agency licensed by the Kansas Board of EMS.  This is a KEMSA only award.

CAREER OR VOLUNTEER SERVICE OF THE YEAR 

Criteria: Paid or volunteer EMS system that exemplifies outstanding professionalism and service to the community it serves.  This award honors agencies for their dedication, teamwork, and commitment to EMS.
Note on volunteer vs. career: If your nominee agency uses volunteers on a regular basis to provide service to its community, please enter your nomination in the Volunteer Service category.  However, please include in your nomination the make-up of the service personnel and any unique ways/success stories for integrating paid and volunteer staff (if that is what is done).

Eligibility: Any Kansas licensed Emergency Medical Service, except those in which NAEMT leadership participate.  Kansas winners will be submitted to NAEMT the following year for consideration for a Service of the Year Award.

See the nomination form for details on what needs to be included in the nomination.

This award was created to honor an individual or team of Kansas first responders for their diligence and perseverance in serving others. The award recognizes individuals or teams whose service exceeds what is normally expected, providing the utmost Peer Support. This award not only honors outstanding contributions but also perpetuates Celine's legacy of compassion and dedication to her community. The Celine Larson Peer Support Award is the first and only Peer Support award for First Responders in Kansas. It is also one of only two Peer Support awards for First Responders in the nation.

The Celine Larson Peer Support Award remembers the legacy of Celine Larson, who passed away in December 2019 at the age of 35 after a multi-year battle with melanoma. As part of the original founding of Kansas-based Grandpa’s Best, a Bestifor Company, and one of its greatest promoters, it only seemed fitting to use Grandpa’s Best as the pathway to create and fund a foundation benefitting EMS/First Responders and other impactful, local community projects. A portion of each sale of Grandpa’s Best products goes to fund the Hop for Heroes Foundation in memory of Celine, and to provide financial support to a wonderful, well-deserving group of individuals. KEMSA works in conjunction with the Hop for Heroes Foundation and Grandpa's Best to assist in the nomination process. The Celine Larson Peer Support Award recipient is chosen by a selection committee appointed by the Hop for Heroes Foundation and Grandpa's Best.

Award Information:

• All award nominations for 2026 must be submitted electronically April 10.  Link to be posted when available.
• The Award recipient(s) will be honored at the annual KEMSA Conference & Expo. 
• Award selection will be made by a special committee formed by the Hop for Heroes Foundation and Grandpa's Best.

Award Criteria:

• Individual or team of first responders in Kansas 
• Demonstration of how the individual or team has gone above and beyond what is normally required or expected of someone providing Peer Support.