Morrisville State College Student, Emergency Medical Technician Recognized for Volunteerism

No matter what time of day or night, when he hears the sound of his ambulance pager going off, Jeremiah Piescik knows someone in the community needs his help.



Piescik is a volunteer EMT with the Smithfield Eaton Volunteer Ambulance Corps (SEVAC). He's also a full-time student at Morrisville State College majoring in Information Technology: Network Administration.



During the two years he has worked with SEVAC, he's responded to hundreds of calls and has pulled his share of overnighters helping those in desperate need of assistance.



There is no class credit for what he does. There is no compensation for the hours he devotes.



But that doesn't matter to him.



Volunteering is something that's inherent in Piescik who was recently awarded the college's Rays of Light Servant Leadership Award.



The Rays of Light Servant Leadership Award recognizes a student of junior status who provides selfless and ongoing service which substantially benefits others and has made a unique and exceptional contribution to the community through selfless volunteerism fostered by an independent and generous spirit.



“The goal of the award is to recognize individuals who make their community a better place by volunteering,” Thomas Pilewski, chair of the Faculty-Student Committee on Student Affairs and assistant professor of business administration, said.



Given at more than 40 campuses nationwide, the award is partially sponsored by a grant through the Barney II Foundation. Winners receive a $500 award and get to name a charity that receives a $200 donation. Piescik chose (SEVAC) to receive the donation.



Helping others has become an intrinsic part of Piescik's everyday life.



“We as volunteers do all we can to help,” he said. “After each call, I am given the chance to reflect back on what I had the privilege to be part of.”



Hundreds of miles away from his hometown of Farmington, Connecticut, Piescik pitches in wherever he can while he attends college in Morrisville, a community he knew little about but has become a large part of through his volunteer efforts.



Carrying a full course load of college credits, Piescik has been involved in countless other efforts too, including packing Thanksgiving baskets for the St. Joan of Arc Church food pantry in Morrisville.



A certified EMT and crew chief with SEVAC, he is also a Resident Assistant (RA) on the Morrisville State College campus and president of the campus Newman Club.



A 2007 graduate of Farmington High School, Piescik is the son of Susan and Joseph Piescik of Farmington, Connecticut.