PHILLIPS – NorthStar EMS has announced the newest AmeriCorps graduates, Don Salm and Ben Guild, who have each completed a two-year term of service under the Emergency Response Corps, AmeriCorps program in the Phillips area.

Salm is exploring institutions that provide paramedic education to fit his schedule, while Guild is attending school for his paramedic license.

The Emergency Response Corps is a federally funded AmeriCorps program that places individuals with fire and ambulance services as volunteers, who assist in emergency response and expand community services.

In the case of NorthStar, the volunteers serve as EMTs in the greater Phillips area. They are also active in public safety education programs, cardiovascular education for seniors and other organizations, initiatives to improve volunteer recruitment and retention, and other projects.

In return for their 1,700 volunteer hours, the fully-credentialed and licensed individuals collect a modest living allowance and gain over $4,700 in education credits that they can apply at almost any college or university.

In addition to Salm and Guild, former AmeriCorps members have included Abbie Davenport, Jane Thorndike, Jeremiah Field and Penny Salm. During their years in the Emergency Response Corps, AmeriCorps program, these six individuals contributed more than 12,000 hours of community service in and around the Phillips area. NorthStar now employs many of the former AmeriCorps members throughout its area.

NorthStar is seeking two new AmeriCorps members to join the program in November. Anyone with an EMT license or a First Responder license, who would like to help the community of Phillips and would like free education at the institution of his or her choice, should contact the NorthStar Phillips base at 639-3830.

More information about NorthStar can be found at www.fchn.org/NorthStar.