Community

Member’s Graduation Project Leads to New SUV for New Jersey Agency

James Careless

05/15/2022

Montgomery Township has seen a steady growth in population over the last few years, which has led to more 9-1-1 calls. “Adding a third first-responder vehicle to our fleet will be a huge help in allowing us to keep up with the increasing call volume,” says Potluri, left. (Photo: Montgomery EMS) — Montgomery Township has seen a steady growth in population over the last few years, which has led to more 9-1-1 calls. “Adding a third first-responder vehicle to our fleet will be a huge help in allowing us to keep up with the increasing call volume,” says Potluri, left. (Photos: Montgomery EMS)

A volunteer member’s high school project has resulted in New Jersey’s Montgomery EMS winning a brand-new Land Rover Defender SUV.

Tharun Potluri is a 19-year-old EMT (and now a freshman at Georgetown University) who made it happen by shooting and editing the agency’s video submission to the first-ever Land Rover Defender Above and Beyond Service Award Competition.

Land Rover created the competition to celebrate US-based nonprofit organizations that make positive impacts in their communities. Entrants had to submit a 3-min video about themselves in 1 of 7 categories for a chance to win 1 of 7 fully outfitted 2022 Land Rover Defenders. The initial submissions were assessed by judges, with finalists being voted on by the public.

“Out of more than 300 submissions, Montgomery EMS was chosen as a winner in the First Responder category,” says Potluri. “This incredible accomplishment could not have been possible without the votes we received from our community. Our…Defender will be put into service as a first responder vehicle and used to further our goal of providing Montgomery with the highest level of emergency medical care at no cost to our patients or township.”

Montgomery EMS’ new Defender has been transformed into a fully outfitted first responder vehicle and put into service.

Montgomery EMS (MEMS) is an all-volunteer organization that provides around-the-clock 9-1-1 emergency medical care to residents and visitors in Montgomery Township, NJ. MEMS consists of about 80 active riding members and currently maintains 4 ambulances and 3 first responder vehicles.

Potluri needed to complete a major project to graduate.

“The requirements of this senior project were that it had to benefit the community in some way and leave a positive impact in this world, no matter how small,” he says. “Being an active member of Montgomery EMS since becoming an EMT at the age of 16, I knew I wanted my senior project to relate to Montgomery EMS in some way.

“When I heard about the Defender Above and Beyond Service awards, I immediately knew that was what I wanted my project to be. I spent about a month filming the video, conducting interviews, and editing before sending my final submission in. Fast-forward a year later, and we are now winners of the Defender Above and Beyond Service Awards!”

Potluri is quick to credit this award to his entire department.

“We really couldn’t have won this competition without all the members who make Montgomery EMS the squad we are,” Potluri says.

“We really couldn’t have won this competition without all the members who make Montgomery EMS the squad we are,” he says. “It’s our devoted volunteers who wake up in the middle of the night, leave their families during holidays, leave work to respond to 9-1-1 calls—they are what truly make MEMS special. As big corporations…take over more and more volunteer EMS agencies, the unparalleled dedication of our members is the reason Montgomery EMS is among a handful of all-volunteer, fully operational EMS agencies remaining in our county and throughout the state.”

Potluri also gives a shout out to the residents of Montgomery Township who voted in the Land Rover contest, because it was their votes that put the agency over the top.

“Our community continuously provides unwavering support for MEMS, and they are a large part of what we do,” he says. “Every single member of our community who took the time to vote for Montgomery EMS is the reason we have a brand-new Land Rover Defender today. The people who spread word to family and friends, the people who set an alarm every day to make sure they cast their vote—these are the people who allowed us to win this competition. Without their incredible support, none of this would be possible.”

Today Montgomery EMS’ new Defender has been transformed into a fully outfitted first responder vehicle and put into service, easing the load on Montgomery EMS’ other vehicles.

Getting the vehicle for free has been a tremendous morale boost for the agency.

“Being a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization, we rely solely on donations from our community to keep us operating,” says Potluri. “Receiving a reliable, top-of-the-line vehicle that has excellent capabilities for free is something we never imagined we’d be gifted with.”

Land Rover also donated money to outfit the vehicle with a full lights-and-siren package, a wrap/graphics, a command box, medical equipment, accessories, and a maintenance coverage plan. “We couldn’t be more grateful for their generosity,” Potluri adds, “and we’re excited to put our new vehicle into use.”

The new Defender couldn’t come at a better time: Montgomery Township has seen a steady growth in population over the last few years, which has led to more 9-1-1 calls. “Adding a third first-responder vehicle to our fleet will be a huge help in allowing us to keep up with the increasing call volume,” Potluri says.

To learn more about Land Rover Defender Above and Beyond Service Award Competition, go to www.landroverusa.com/experiences/events-and-sponsorships/defender-service-awards/winners.html.

James Careless is a freelance writer and frequent contributor to EMS World.