High school students throughout Beaufort County who aspire to be firefighters or EMTs have until May 16 to apply for enrollment in the Beaufort County Fire and EMT Academy.

Beaufort County Schools is partnering with the N.C. Office of Emergency Medical Services, N.C. Office of the State Fire Marshal, N.C. Department of Public Instruction and fire and EMS departments around the county to offer the academy at Southside High School, according to Beaufort County Schools Career and Technical Education Director Stacey Gerard.

According to Gerard, rising ninth-, 10^th- and 11^th- grade students are eligible to apply for acceptance into the academy. Transportation to Southside High School for those accepted will be paid for by the school system.

“This is for any student who wants to seek a career in fire fighting and EMT,” Gerard said. “What they’re looking for in academy students is any student who has a general interest in fire fighting or EMT.”

According to Gerard, students can earn certifications in CPR/first aid, Firefighter I and II and EMT-basic as well as the Career Readiness Certificate (WorkKeys) while in high school under the instruction of Otis Harrell, Fire and EMT Academy instructor.

Students who are concentrating on a career and technical education path qualify to take the WorkKeys exam and can possibly earn a CRC. These certifications are used by businesses to measure workplace skills of employees and job applicants and by schools and colleges to help prepare students for the workplace.

Gerard said the academy at Southside offers advantages in financial savings, networking opportunities, work-based learning experiences at local EMS and fire departments, performance-based learning, individualized learning environments and community-service activities.

“Students are going to be able to earn their credentials at no charge through Beaufort County Schools,” Gerard said. “Traditionally, they would have to go to Beaufort County Community College and pay the books, the registration, the cost of the course. It cost money for the credential exams, too, and we are paying for that as well.”

Gerard said the program was earned through a North Carolina Education and Workforce grant, which will establish career academies at all three of the district’s traditional high schools — Southside, Northside and Washington. This grant comes from a state-funded program aiming to strengthen successful, innovative education programs that combine academic rigor and skills development with the goal of graduating every student both college and career ready. Over the next two years, academies specializing in other concentrations will be established at Northside and Washington high schools.

Those students who are interested may obtain applications from the Southside High School main office or from the Beaufort County Schools webpage. You can request a copy by calling 940-1881. Return applications to the Southside High School Principal, Dale Cole by dropping them off at the main office or faxing them to 252-940-1888. Parents and will be notified of acceptance by May 30 through a letter mailed via U.S. Postal Service or email.