There are moments in life when ordinary people do something extraordinary. A split-second decision. A remembered training. A refusal to stand still.
On March 5 at 5:30 p.m., the 30th and final Acts of Courage Awards will take place at the Doubletree by Hilton Akron/Fairlawn, celebrating community members who stepped into those moments, and changed lives.
This year’s event marks the final chapter of a three-decade tradition honoring local heroism. And the stories being told are the kind that remind you what people are capable of when it matters most.
Jeff Shaferly: Gym Workout Turns Life-Saving Rescue: Jeff Shaferly was simply working out at a local gym when a fellow member suddenly collapsed. Jeff didn’t hesitate. He immediately began CPR, then grabbed an automated external defibrillator (AED) and delivered a shock. He continued chest compressions until paramedics arrived. The person had suffered a heart attack and was rushed to the hospital. Later, in the catheterization lab, where Jeff had just arrived for work, a medical team successfully opened a major artery blockage. Because Jeff acted quickly, that person survived.
City of Twinsburg Police, Fire & Dispatch: When first responders arrived at a home fire in Twinsburg, they learned an 8-month-old baby was trapped in the basement. Police tried to reach the child but were pushed back by thick smoke. Firefighters entered the home, navigating intense heat and zero visibility and found the baby in a separate room behind a closed door. Firefighters carried the child to safety and began treatment for smoke inhalation. The baby was taken to the hospital in stable condition.
Evelyn Young: A Child Who Listened: While at home with her family, 7-year-old Evelyn Young heard screaming coming from the duplex next door. She didn’t ignore it and told her dad, who knocked down the neighbor’s back door and discovered her inside alone, bleeding heavily after a fall. The dad applied pressure to the woman’s wound until emergency crews arrived. After multiple surgeries, the neighbor recovered and credits Evelyn with saving her life.
Chris Watson: A Teacher Who Knew What to Do: During gym class for special needs students at Medina County Career Center, teacher Chris Watson noticed a student grabbing her throat. She was choking. When coughing didn’t work and her breathing changed, Chris immediately began abdominal thrusts. After a few thrusts, the object came out and the student recovered.
Ashley Wise: First Aid Training That Lasted 20 Years: Ashley Wise was beginning her morning at Davey Tree headquarters when she noticed a coworker in distress. The coworker was choking. Ashley relied on first aid training she had received nearly two decades earlier. She began back blows, then abdominal thrusts, dislodging the food and restoring her colleague’s airway.
Jennifer McDaniel: When No One Else Moved: Red Cross volunteer Jennifer McDaniel was at a restaurant when she saw another diner struggling to breathe. Others saw it too, but no one stepped in. Only Jennifer did. Drawing on her Red Cross training, she performed abdominal thrusts until the food was dislodged.
H. Peter Burg Community Leader Award: In addition to the life-saving recognitions, this year’s H. Peter Burg Community Leader Award will be presented to Jack McCabe, Vice President and General Manager for the Utility Vegetation Management division of Davey Resource Group. The award honors individuals who have spent a lifetime pursuing good deeds and strengthening the community. McCabe’s leadership and service reflect that legacy.
For 30 years, the Acts of Courage Awards have highlighted everyday people who chose to do something brave. This year’s event will be the last, a final opportunity to gather, reflect, and celebrate the quiet heroism living right here in our community.
