4 Marist High School Seniors On Track To Becoming Certified EMTs

CHICAGO – When four Marist High School seniors graduate this May, they will be one step closer to adult careers as certified Emergency Medical Technicians. llie Fey, Timothy Graber, Ronnie Shalabi, and Christine Stephenson successfully graduated from the Chicago Ambulance Alliance EMT program Feb. 21. These students will now take the certification exam, and with a passing grade, they will officially become certified EMTs.

Thanks to a partnership with Chicago Ambulance Alliance, Marist began the EMT course in October, meeting three evenings a week during the week for five hours after already putting in a full day at school. Throughout the program, the high school students gained hands-on experience and training in both emergency and non-emergency care for trauma, medical, and behavioral patients. Students also completed 48 hours of ride time in an ambulance, working alongside certified personnel.

“The EMT course was challenging, but an incredible experience,” said Ellie Fey, who was named valedictorian of the Marist class of 2025. “The knowledge I gained about anatomy, physiology, and emergency medicine will certainly help me in the medical field. The instructors were very understanding and offered help every step of the way.”

This marks the first collaboration between Marist High School and the Chicago Ambulance Alliance to offer such a program. Starting this fall, the EMT program will be offered as a course to Marist seniors. The course will be taught by a Marist instructor in partnership with the Chicago Ambulance Alliance, and upon completion, students will be eligible to take the certification exam. The new program will be part of the students' regular schedule and will span the entire academic year.

Once the seniors complete the certification process, Chicago Ambulance Alliance has guaranteed job placement with their company.

The exiting opportunity continues Marist’s commitment to providing real-world, hands-on learning experiences that prepare students for careers in various fields, particularly in the medical and emergency services sectors.