Benjamin Marsh entered emergency medical services with a simple goal: to build a career in which he could make a meaningful and tangible difference in people’s lives. Before he had even completed his EMT training, he found himself unexpectedly called upon to do exactly that.

On March 25, 2026, Benjamin was participating in EMT training at Fox Valley Technical College when his instructor, Karl Arps, suffered a sudden cardiac arrest. Just two weeks earlier, Karl had administered Benjamin’s formal CPR skills test. Now, the instructor had unexpectedly become the patient.

Although Benjamin was still an EMT student and had not yet received his license, he was CPR certified and immediately put his training into action. Working alongside fellow students and instructors, Benjamin helped remove Karl from the training ambulance using a longboard, assisted with bag-valve-mask ventilation, and supported the team as they performed lifesaving interventions. After receiving multiple defibrillator shocks, Karl regained a pulse and ultimately made a remarkable recovery.

For Benjamin, the experience became powerful confirmation that EMS was where he belonged. Faced with a sudden, high-pressure emergency, he discovered that he could remain composed, rely on his training, work as part of a team, and contribute meaningfully when another person’s life was at stake.

Benjamin’s actions were subsequently recognized by the Wisconsin State Legislature with a State of Wisconsin Citation of Commendation honoring his “extraordinary courage, composure, and skill” during the life-threatening emergency.

Benjamin began his EMS career in May 2026 and joined MMT in July. Today, his colleagues know him as dependable, empathetic, calm under pressure, and committed to being a strong teammate. He intends to continue his EMS education with the goal of becoming a Paramedic and, eventually, a Critical Care Paramedic.

Benjamin entered EMS because he wanted to serve others. His actions while still a student demonstrated that he already possessed many of the qualities at the heart of the profession: composure, compassion, teamwork, and a willingness to step forward when someone needs help most. The American Ambulance Association is proud to recognize Benjamin Marsh as a Star of Life.

Driven by a desire to become a more well-rounded and capable wildland firefighter, Logan Lehrer pursued Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification to strengthen their ability to respond when others need help most.

Through their experience in wildland fire, Logan recognized the critical importance of medical knowledge and emergency response skills, particularly in remote environments where advanced medical care may be miles away. Becoming an EMT was a natural extension of their commitment to preparedness and their desire to protect and assist others in challenging and unpredictable conditions.

That commitment was put to the test while Logan was still completing EMT training. During class, one of their instructors suffered a sudden out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Faced with a real medical emergency involving someone who had been teaching them how to respond to exactly such situations, Logan remained composed and immediately put their training into action. They assisted in the emergency response, helping ensure their instructor received the urgent care needed to survive.

The experience provided Logan with a powerful firsthand lesson in how quickly an ordinary moment can become a life-threatening emergency. It demonstrated the importance of recognizing a crisis, remaining calm under pressure, and taking decisive action. Most importantly, it reinforced Logan’s commitment to completing their EMT certification and developing the skills necessary to help others when every second matters.

By combining their dedication to wildland firefighting with a commitment to emergency medical care, Logan exemplifies courage, preparedness, compassion, and a willingness to step forward when someone is in need. Their actions during a fellow responder’s most critical moment embody the spirit of a Star of Life.

Jacob James’ journey toward emergency medical services is rooted in a longstanding commitment to serving others. Before entering EMS, Jacob joined the U.S. Army in 2019 and served for seven years as an infantryman stationed in Savannah, Georgia. During his military service, he met his wife, Kelli, who is originally from Wisconsin.

After completing his military service, Jacob and Kelli made Wisconsin their home. With the goal of pursuing a career in firefighting with the Oshkosh Fire Department, Jacob enrolled in EMT training at Fox Valley Technical College, taking the next step in a career dedicated to helping others during their most critical moments.

Only months into his EMT education, Jacob encountered an emergency no classroom exercise could fully prepare him for.

On March 25, Jacob was working in another room during a training scenario when he heard his head instructor, Traci Blondeau, urgently call for an AED. An instructor who had been portraying a patient during the exercise had experienced an actual cardiac emergency.

Jacob immediately recognized that the situation had shifted from simulation to reality. He retrieved the AED and joined his fellow students and instructors in the resuscitation effort. Working together, the group performed CPR and used the AED as they worked to save their instructor’s life. Their efforts were successful.

Although still a student, Jacob demonstrated qualities essential to emergency medical care: composure, initiative, teamwork, and a willingness to act when someone needed help. His military experience had taught him to remain focused under pressure, trust his training, and work as part of a team. When confronted with a genuine medical emergency, he put those lessons into action.

The experience offered Jacob an unforgettable introduction to the responsibility that accompanies a career in EMS. It also reinforced the path he had chosen—from serving his country as an Army infantryman to preparing for a new career serving his community as an EMT and aspiring firefighter.

Jacob’s actions demonstrate that a commitment to service is more than a career choice; it is the willingness to step forward when another person needs help. Through his courage, composure, teamwork, and dedication to serving others, Jacob represents the promise of the next generation of emergency responders.

We are proud to recognize Jacob James as an American Ambulance Association Star of Life.

At just 21 years old, Sofie Jo DeValk already embodies the courage, compassion, and commitment at the heart of emergency medical services. Her journey into EMS began with an admiration for emergency medical responders and quickly developed into a passion for helping others. Remarkably, Sofie had the opportunity to put that commitment into action before she had even completed her EMT training.

Sofie has worked in healthcare since she was 15. Drawn to fast-paced environments and the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives, she initially enrolled in EMT school as a way to supplement her income while pursuing a career as a surgical technologist. Along the way, however, she discovered something unexpected: EMS was where she belonged.

That realization became profoundly personal during an EMT training scenario. Sofie and her classmates were participating in an exercise in which their instructor was portraying the patient when, without warning, he suffered an actual out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Sofie and her classmates immediately recognized that the scenario had become a real emergency. They shifted from practicing lifesaving skills to using them, working together to provide the critical care their instructor needed. Their training took over as they recognized the cardiac arrest, responded decisively, and became essential links in the chain of survival.

Their actions helped save their instructor’s life.

For Sofie, the experience was more than an extraordinary moment during EMT school. It confirmed that she had chosen the right profession and demonstrated, in the most profound way possible, that the skills she was learning could truly mean the difference between life and death.

Sofie credits her instructors, clinical experiences, and classmates with helping ignite her passion for EMS. They introduced her to a profession that continually challenges its members to learn, pursue further education, support one another, and grow. Her classmates also became an important source of encouragement and accountability as she worked to become the best EMT she could be.

What began as a plan to earn an EMT-B certification while pursuing another career has become a commitment to emergency medical services. Sofie now intends to continue her education and build a career centered on helping people during some of the most critical moments of their lives.

Sofie did not simply learn about the chain of survival in a classroom; she became part of it. Her ability to recognize a genuine emergency, remain focused under extraordinary circumstances, trust her training, and work alongside her classmates to save a life reflects the courage and readiness at the heart of EMS. Her story is a powerful reminder that EMS training prepares providers not only for the emergencies they expect, but also for the moments they never see coming. Congratulations Sofie, a 2026 American Ambulance Association Star of Life!

Traci Blondeau has dedicated her career to serving others through emergency medical services, education, and leadership. She currently serves as Service Director for Hortonville EMS and as an EMS Adjunct Instructor at Fox Valley Technical College, where her influence extends from the patients and communities she serves to the future EMS professionals she helps develop.

Traci’s EMS journey began in 2010, when she became an Emergency Medical Responder after witnessing a serious youth BMX accident and realizing how little many people knew about what to do while waiting for an ambulance. That experience inspired her to pursue emergency medical services, eventually becoming a Paramedic and further expanding her skills through Tactical EMS training.

Education soon became another passion. Encouraged by her own EMS instructors, Traci began working as an aide at Fox Valley Technical College in 2013 and discovered how rewarding it was to help prepare others for careers in EMS. Today, she teaches Emergency Medical Responder and EMT courses, as well as first aid and CPR for the Criminal Justice Law Enforcement and Jailer Academies.

Traci is the kind of leader and educator who makes people feel supported, valued, and capable of more than they may realize. Her impact reaches far beyond the classroom as former students carry the knowledge, confidence, and commitment she helped instill into their own EMS careers.

The significance of that work became especially clear during a recent EMT class. An adjunct instructor who was participating as a simulated chest pain patient suddenly suffered an actual cardiac arrest. Traci immediately recognized the emergency and led her students as they provided high-quality CPR and early defibrillation. Their rapid response saved the instructor’s life, and just a few months later, he was able to return to teaching EMS classes.

The incident demonstrated not only Traci’s ability to remain calm and lead during a life-threatening emergency, but also the real-world impact of her dedication to education. When an unexpected crisis unfolded in her classroom, the skills she had worked so hard to teach were immediately put into action.

Through her dedication to patient care, EMS education, leadership, and the development of future professionals, Traci has created an impact that extends across generations of providers and throughout her community. Hortonville EMS is proud to recognize Traci Blondeau as an American Ambulance Association Star of Life.

Anela Riehl is being recognized as an American Ambulance Association Star of Life for her quick thinking, courage, and decisive actions during a medical emergency involving one of her EMT instructors.

While participating in EMT training, Anela’s instructor suddenly suffered a cardiac arrest. Without hesitation, Anela stepped forward and immediately began performing CPR, putting her training into action when it mattered most. Her calm response and willingness to act provided critical lifesaving care during a sudden and life-threatening emergency.

Anela’s actions exemplify the heart of emergency medical services: being prepared, remaining composed under pressure, and stepping forward when someone needs help. Her response reflects not only the skills she developed through her EMT training, but also the compassion, courage, and commitment to service that are at the core of EMS.

Anela’s actions serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of preparation and the difference one person can make when seconds count. Her instinct to act in a moment of crisis and her dedication to helping others exemplify the qualities honored by the Stars of Life program.