Fox Valley Students to Receive National Honor in November
Five students who saved their instructor during a cardiac event will be honored at a national ceremony in Washington, D.C.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Emergency Response
Five Fox Valley Technical College students are set to receive national recognition this November for saving the life of their EMS instructor. The group performed emergency medical intervention after instructor Karl Arps suffered a cardiac arrest during a training exercise.
Why it matters
The students are being honored for their quick application of EMS training during a critical medical emergency. Their successful intervention demonstrates the practical value of hands-on simulation training in the field.
Five students are scheduled to receive national honors for their life-saving actions. The recognition event will occur over a span of 3 days.
The players
Sofie DeValk
She is one of the five Fox Valley Technical College students who provided life-saving medical intervention to their instructor.
Karl Arps
He is the EMS instructor who suffered a cardiac arrest while serving as a mock patient during a training exercise.
Traci Blondeau
She is the instructor who will accompany the students to the national recognition ceremony in Washington, D.C.
Fox Valley Technical College
The institution is based in Appleton and provides emergency medical services training to its students.
The details
Sofie DeValk, Jacob James, Logan Lehrer, Benjamin Marsh, and Anela Riehl utilized their specialized EMS training to intervene when their instructor, Karl Arps, collapsed. The teamwork displayed by the students effectively managed the medical crisis on-site at the technical college.
Timeline
The students and their instructor will travel to Washington, D.C., in November 2026.
The official recognition ceremony occurs at the Stars of Life Medal Breakfast on November 16, 2026.
Seasonal Patterns
The students are being recognized during the Stars of Life Medal Breakfast, which follows the established pattern of honoring outstanding emergency response efforts on a national stage. This event serves as a platform for celebrating excellence in medical interventions by students across the country.
Local residents can look to this event as a reminder of the critical importance of being trained in emergency life-saving procedures. Familiarizing yourself with basic medical intervention techniques can prove vital in managing unexpected health crises in the community.
The takeaway
This incident highlights the life-saving potential of students prepared to act decisively during medical emergencies. Maintaining a readiness to perform immediate intervention remains a core pillar of effective emergency services.
What happens next
The students and their instructor will travel to Washington, D.C., in November 2026, culminating in their recognition at the Stars of Life Medal Breakfast on November 16, 2026.
Further reading
Learn more about local emergency response protocols and recognitions in the Appleton Emergency Response section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WFRV-TV Channel 5.
