COLUMBIA — Columbia State Community College's EMS students demonstrated exceptional clinical skill and critical thinking when they swept the awards at the fourth annual "Battle of the Smokies" competition on March 4 in Sevierville. The college's teams won first and fourth place in the Student Advanced Life Support division and first and second place in the Student Basic Life Support division, competing against 25 teams from community colleges, county EMS agencies, and mine rescue crews across Tennessee.
The competition presented a complex, realistic scenario: a side-by-side utility vehicle had struck a telephone pole, leaving multiple patients requiring urgent assessment and treatment. The simulated scene included smoke and other hazards that tested not just the students' medical knowledge but their situational awareness, decision-making under pressure, and ability to coordinate care in a chaotic environment. Judges evaluated teams on three criteria: speed of patient assessment, quality of medical interventions, and readiness for transport.
"We are incredibly proud of these students and their dedication to clinical excellence," said Gregory S. Johnson, Columbia State's EMS program director and assistant professor. "These AEMT and paramedic students performed at an incredible level of skill and showcased their ability to think critically in a very complex situation."
The students who competed—paramedics Dayla Stephens of Unionville, Levi Dixon of College Grove, and Hannah Nolan of Columbia, along with Advanced EMTs Avery Fitzgerald of Spring Hill, Caroline Luna of Lyles, Jason Bruns of Hohenwald, Jeremy Farmer of Columbia, and Kate Duncan Warner of Franklin—represented Columbia State and Maury County well. Beyond the trophies, they gained eight hours of continuing education credits through their participation and conference attendance, deepening their professional development.
Columbia State's EMS program continues to produce graduates who excel in emergency medical services across Tennessee and beyond. For a community served by first responders who depend on rigorous training and clinical proficiency, the success of these students reflects the quality of education available right here on Hampshire Pike in Columbia.