This week Cyndy Rider, a Paramedic with LifeNet in our Texarkana Division, was honored at our annual EMS & First Responders Appreciation Lunch held at Silvermoon on Broad in Texarkana for being named a Star of Life.
Cyndy is one of three Stars of Life who will represent LifeNet in Washington DC next month in a series of events in our nation’s capital.
Nomination for Star of Life
A Paramedic at LifeNet, Cyndy received several nominations for the annual honor that is bestowed upon the best and brightest of EMS professionals, including:
- “Cyndy has always sounds happy and full of life as she talks on the radio.”
- “Cyndy always comes to work with a positive attitude and is constantly showing great compassion for her patients as well as her coworkers.”
- “Cyndy’s constant good attitude is like a breath of fresh air.”
- “She is always smiling and has a positive attitude.”
- “She comes to work ready to do her job and does not complain.”
- “I believe that she cares about her patients and always wants to do her best.”
Path to Becoming a Paramedic
As a child, Cyndy split her time between her home in Texarkana and the family farm in Garland City, Arkansas, where her father was a farmer and member of the volunteer fire department. After graduating from Arkansas High, she attended Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Interdisciplinary Studies and Mass Communication.
In 2011, she moved to Providence Village, Texas, with her husband, Thomas Rider. While living in North Dallas, she felt a strong desire to leave the retail industry after more 10 years and pursue a childhood dream of becoming a paramedic/first responder.
In 2013, Cyndy completed her EMT training at UT Southwestern and began working for Allegiance Ambulance in Carrollton, TX.
Two years later, she returned to school to become a licensed paramedic. She moved back to Texarkana and began working at LifeNet the following year.
Cyndy thoroughly enjoys working with students as a preceptor. She takes great pride in teaching others not only the skills necessary to become a confident and proficient paramedic, but also how to maintain a positive attitude in stressful and sometimes difficult circumstances. She is grateful for the opportunity this job has given her to have a meaningful impact on the lives of her patients and fellow employees.
In her spare time Cyndy enjoys camping, traveling, spending time with her four dogs, playing piano, and serving the members of Fairview United Methodist Church.
About Stars of Life
The American Ambulance Association’s Stars of Life program celebrates the contributions of ambulance professionals who have gone above and beyond the call of duty in service to their communities or the EMS profession.
Stars of Life honors the contributions of EMS heroes, while shining light on the critical role EMS plays in our healthcare infrastructure.