PITTSBURGH, Pa., June 19, 2017—In its second award announcement of 2017, the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission announced today that 19 individuals are being given the Carnegie Medal in recognition of their acts of outstanding civilian heroism. The medal is awarded throughout the United States and Canada to those who risk their lives to an extraordinary degree while saving or attempting to save the lives of others. Four of the latest awardees died in the performance of their heroic acts.
The heroes announced today bring to 39 the number of awards made to date in 2017 and to 9,953 the total number since the Pittsburgh-based Fund’s inception in 1904. Commission Chair Mark Laskow stated that each of the awardees or their survivors will also receive a financial grant. Throughout the 113 years since the Fund was established by industrialist-philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, $39.1 million has been given in one-time grants, scholarship aid, death benefits, and continuing assistance.
The awardees are:
- Stephanie Melinda Marino, Manteca, Calif.
- Scott B. Keller, Tecumseh, Mich.
- Kenneth R. Atkinson, deceased, Centennial, Colo.
- Robert Sunkel, Vero Beach, Fla.
- Linda Nolan, Vero Beach, Fla.
- Robbie Goering-Jensen, Ashland, Neb.
- Brian G. Bergkamp, deceased, Cheney, Kan.
- Brett Bailes, Omaha, Neb.
- C. Fredric Holbeck, Omaha, Neb.
- Dennis Wilson, Omaha, Neb.
- David Blauzvern, Roslyn Heights, N.Y.
- Gary J. Messina, West Islip, N.Y.
- John J. Green III, New York City, N.Y.
- Louis Daniel Scharold, Alexandria, Ky.
- Dennis Joseph Michel, deceased, Ankeny, Iowa
- Robert Conant, Stoney Creek, Ont.
- Sean C. Randles, deceased, Las Vegas, Nev.
- John David Smith, Snoqualmie Pass, Wash.
- Victor M. Ortiz, Union, N.J.
To nominate someone for the CARNEGIE MEDAL, write the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission, 436 Seventh Ave., Suite 1101, Pittsburgh, PA 15219; call 1-800-447-8900 (toll free); or email carnegiehero@carnegiehero.org. More information on the Carnegie Medal and the history of the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission can be found at carnegiehero.org. Find us on Facebook or Twitter.