51st Annual Rescue College - June 12-21, 2026
VAVRS 2026 Rescue College Information
Hello to all the members of the Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads (VAVRS), as well as all of you interested in participating in the 51st Annual Rescue College. The dates for Rescue College are from June 12-21, 2026. The event is being held at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia. This training event encompasses a wide variety of courses built to improve on first responder education, hands on experience, and overall preparedness of those dedicated individuals serving the public, and safe-guarding their communities.
Our instructors and cadre bring years of real world experience to everything they teach. This event has grown every year and we are excited to old and new faces participatint!
Celebrating 50 Years of Excellence:
Record Attendance Marks 2025 VAVRS Rescue College at Virginia Tech
Kevin Dillard, 2026 Rescue College Chairman
The Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads (VAVRS) proudly celebrated the 50th Anniversary of Rescue College this year, held June 6-15, 2025, at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. In its five decades, Rescue College has grown into one of the most respected and anticipated EMS training events in Virginia — and this milestone year was one of our biggest and best yet.
This year, a record 380 students attended Rescue College — an increase of more than 100 students over last year — earning hundreds of hours of EMS continuing education (CE) toward their recertifications. A total of 94 classes were offered, including 13 instructor-level courses, 17 technical courses, and numerous medical CE classes.
A special highlight of the week was the displaying of an official proclamation from the Virginia General Assembly honoring the 50th Anniversary of Rescue College — a proud moment for all who have worked to build and sustain this vital program.
New offerings this year included our first-ever Drone Operations for EMS class, which was very well received and is expected to grow in future years. Evening CE classes also drew enthusiastic participation, with popular sessions such as Meth Labs: Awareness for EMS Providers and Death, Dying, and the EMS Provider, which provided practical insights and sparked important discussions.
Our Kids Rescue Camp once again proved to be a crowd favorite, inspiring the EMS providers of tomorrow and helping foster a passion for public service among the younger generation.
We were honored this year by the participation of several distinguished guests. Dr. Maria Beermann-Foat, the new Director of the Virginia Office of EMS, spent a full day with us — visiting classrooms, observing field exercises, and attending our Monday night reception at Mellow Mushroom, where she made a point of speaking with nearly every participant. She also toured the Virginia Tech Rescue Squad and the Blacksburg Volunteer Rescue Squad — the latter having recently been recognized during EMS Week 2025 at the Governor’s Mansion as Virginia EMS Agency of the Year, an award presented by Governor Glenn Youngkin. Both agencies continue to impress with their professionalism, volunteer spirit, and state-of-the-art equipment.
Also visiting us at Rescue College was Christopher Lindsay, Chief Operating Officer of the Virginia Department of Health. He visited many of the classes, taking time to meet students and instructors, observe training scenarios, and engage with attendees about the future of EMS education.
A very special thank you goes to Ken Morgan, Chair of the 2025 Rescue College. Ken worked tirelessly behind the scenes for more than a year to make this anniversary a success. In a fitting circle of history, Ken served as VAVRS President in 1975 when he helped organize the very first Rescue College — and this year, he returned as Chair for the 50th anniversary event. His dedication and leadership ensured this milestone year was one to remember, and he was on site every day, working with instructors and students to keep everything running smoothly.
Of course, none of this would be possible without our dedicated volunteer instructors who generously give their time and expertise to educate the next generation of EMS providers. We also thank the Rescue College Committee and staff for their countless hours of work, and most importantly, we thank the students who chose to invest their time in this training opportunity and who help keep the EMS system strong across the Commonwealth.
Looking ahead, planning is already underway for the 2026 Rescue College, again to be held at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, June 12-21, 2026. We look forward to continuing to offer instructor courses, CE classes, technical skills sessions, and many new and innovative topics.
If you have suggestions for next year’s Rescue College, please email me, Kevin Dillard, at kdillard421@gmail.com
I am honored to serve as the 2026 Rescue College Chair and look forward to seeing everyone next year for another exciting week of learning, fellowship, and excellence in EMS education!