Paramedic leaves a lasting legacy

June 07--A local paramedic's dedication and service is being remembered with a scholarship established by his co-workers.

The Andy Sharp Memorial Scholarship will provide assistance to paramedic students attending Meridian Community College. Sharp, who was a paramedic with Metro Ambulance, died Feb. 11.

"Andy was a paramedic, flight medic and teacher, and his heart was in the field," said Nancy Woodruff, a scholarship committee member, as well as friend and co-worker.

"We want Andy's passion and love for what he did to continue in others, as it did in him. We want to help a student achieve their calling and dream to become a paramedic by awarding a scholarship to help with some of the cost," Woodruff said.

The goal for the fund is $25,000. Once achieved, the scholarship will be fully funded, Woodruff said.

Sharp's mother, Penny, said the scholarship fund means a lot to her -- as well as Andy's father, Danny, and other family members -- because it will keep his memory alive in the field he had such a passion for.

"Despite a back injury and hip replacement, nothing could keep Andy from doing the job he loved," Penny Sharp said, "He loved his job and was dedicated. He spent a lot of time going to classes, learning more and getting more certifications. I worried about him lifting with his back injury, but when he had his hip replacement the surgeon told him he couldn't go back to being a paramedic. He was devastated, but somehow he convinced the surgeon to let him go back to work."

In addition to working at Metro Ambulance, Sharp also worked as a paramedic for AirEvac. He previously worked with Neshoba County General Hospital's Ambulance Service and was a paramedic instructor at MCC.

According to his mother, there was nothing more Sharp wanted to do than be a paramedic.

"He told me he wouldn't be on the truck forever because he wanted to get his flight medic license, and he worked very hard to get that license," Penny Sharp said. "But one job he couldn't let go of was working at Metro Ambulance; he loved that job. He thought so much of Mr. (Clayton) Cobler and all the others that he worked with."

"Smart," "lifelong learner" "true friend," "funny" and "always smiling" are some of the words friends, co-workers and scholarship committee members used to describe Sharp.

"When I was approached about the scholarship fund, I was honored to be able to have his name associated with MCC and the MCC Paramedic Program," Chris Lafferty, director of MCC's paramedic program, said.

"Andy always enjoyed learning new things, and by having this scholarship it allows his legacy to continue through other people. Andy and I worked together for nearly 10 years and were very close. He was just a really good friend, paramedic and teacher," Lafferty said.

Close friend and co-worker Mark Pankratz remembers Sharp as one who would not "sugar coat" anything.

"He would let you know exactly what he thought and how it was," said Pankratz, who is also a scholarship committee member. "So, if you asked him a question, you better want the truth, because that is what you would get. He was one of the smartest people I knew, and he was definitely the best medic around."

"He was the reason I went into EMS, and once I got my paramedic, the only person's approval I really wanted was his, because if he said you were a good medic, then that meant a lot, at least it did to me," Pankratz said. "Most of all, he was my best friend."

Dana Davis, co-worker and friend at Metro remembers Sharp for his ability to think outside the box.

"Which is hard to find in our field," she said. "He always found a way to help someone. He was so funny and even when we were busy as could be, having a hard shift, he would find a way to make it better. We truly lost a legend when we lost him."

Co-worker and friend Kevin Tindol remembers Sharp's positive attitude.

"Even if you didn't know him, he would be your friend after meeting him one time," Tindol said. "He was the smartest young paramedic I have ever known. He always came to work early and stayed late. He might have been young, but he lived his life to the fullest, every moment of every day. His spirit and star will forever burn bright in our hearts."

Scholarship Committee member and friend Tara Hall said Sharp had a thirst for knowledge and a larger than life personality.

"I worked with him in the medical field, but we were best friends before that," Hall said. "He had one of the kindest hearts I have ever known, mixed with the most mischievous personalities I have ever met. He always pulled for the underdog, and silently helped many people with the want of no recognition."

Lauderdale County Coroner Clayton Cobler said Sharp's presence has been missed at Metro Ambulance.

"He is definitely missed around that place, the way he laughed, and when someone tells a joke. Not hearing that laugh kinda puts a hole in your heart," Cobler said. "Every medic strives to be like Andy. He was on top of his game, most definitely.

" A lot of people when they get a lot of knowledge, they get uppity, Andy wasn't like that. If there was something you didn't know, he would take you aside and show you how to do it."

Sharp's sister, Amy, said she not only hopes the scholarship will help sustain her brother's memory, but also help someone with the same desire to save lives.

"My brother is a true hero in the EMS community," she said. "So I just hope the scholarship will bring awareness to that, and help someone."

Amy Sharp remembers telling her brother that if you don't have compassion, nothing else matters.

"And so many people told me after he died, he was that kind of medic and person," Amy Sharp said. "You want someone that is smart helping you, but you also want someone to treat you like you matter,. And that's what all his friends and co-workers told me he did, everyday."

FYI

To donate to the Andy Sharp Memorial School, make checks payable to the MCC Foundation and mail to: Andy Sharp EMS Memorial Scholarship, Meridian Community College, 910 Highway 19 N., Meridian, Miss., 39307. An "In Memory" card will be sent to the parents.

To be a sponsor, contact a committee member at andysharpemsmemorial@yahoo.com

Copyright 2015 - The Meridian Star, Miss.