In 1987, the USLA Board of Directors approved a policy whereby awards may be granted to persons who participate in heroic acts. The USLA recognition is restricted to acts which show conclusive evidence that the person performing the act voluntarily risked
their own life to an extraordinary degree in saving, or attempting to save, the life of another person, or voluntarily sacrificed themselves in a heroic manner for the benefit of others.
To be considered for recognition, heroic acts must be reported to USLA within one year of the date they occurred. Usually, only those acts performed in areas within the scope of USLA's activities will be considered for such an award. Awards are restricted
to cases in which no primary family relationship exists. Click here to submit a nomination online.
Heroic act awards include the Medal of Valor which is given to an individual lifeguard who voluntarily risked their life, to an extraordinary degree,
in saving, or attempting to save another person, or who sacrificed themselves for the benefit of others.
Non-lifeguards are also eligible for heroic act awards. The Heroic Act Award is presented by USLA to a non-lifeguard and is intended to give due recognition
to those who have risked their lives to an extraordinary degree in a rescue or attempted rescue of another person (without familial relation to the rescuer).
USLA Medal of Valor
The highest lifeguard award presented by USLA is the Medal of Valor. The primary purpose for creating this award is to give due recognition to an individual lifeguard who voluntarily risked their life, to an extraordinary degree, in saving, or attempting
to save another person, or who sacrificed themselves for the benefit of others. USLA also extends the Heroic Act Award to non-lifeguards.
Lifeguard Medal of Valor Recipients
| Albers, Bob |
|
1999 |
|
San Diego, CA |
| Alvarez, Willy |
|
2006 |
|
Volusia County, FL |
| Bartlett, Mike |
|
2005 |
|
Huntington Beach,CA |
Belden, Andrew
| | 2022
| | Newport Beach, CA
|
| Beuerlein, Mike |
|
1989 |
|
Huntington Beach, CA |
Blackford, Matt
|
|
2010
|
|
Newport Beach, CA
|
| Borland, Tim |
|
2003 |
|
Avila Beach, CA |
| Bradbury, Bouvey |
|
2008 |
|
City and County of Honolulu, HI |
Brady, Megan
| | 2022
| | California State Parks, CA
|
| Brown, Mark |
|
2012 |
|
San Diego, CA |
Buck, Nathaniel
|
|
2009
|
|
California State Parks, CA
|
Carlson, Ben
|
|
2014 |
|
Newport Beach, CA
|
Carter, David
|
|
1991
|
|
California State Parks, CA
|
Chrisley, Jordan
|
|
2014
|
|
Daytona Beach, FL
|
| Cicchetto, Sean |
|
1996 |
|
San Clemete, CA |
| Coats, Eric |
|
2006 |
|
Lake Perris, CA
|
| Connolly, Christopher |
|
2016 |
|
Ventura, CA |
| Corbo, Christian |
|
1998 |
|
Laguna Beach, CA |
| Culp, Casey |
|
1998 |
|
California State Parks, CA |
| Feighan, Mark |
|
2010 |
|
San Diego, CA |
Fellars, Timothy B.
|
|
2009
|
|
California State Parks, CA
|
| Fesler, Jeff |
|
2003 |
|
Avila Beach, CA |
| Gitelson, Joel |
|
2006 |
|
Los Angeles County, CA |
| Grigouli, Richard |
|
2003 |
|
Oceano State Park, CA |
| Grigsby, Scott |
|
1994 |
|
Los Angeles County, CA |
| Harris, Ed |
|
1999 |
|
San Diego, CA |
| Hauanio, Kaleo |
|
2015 |
|
Kona, Hawaii |
| Helble, Andrew |
|
2019 |
|
Encinitas, CA |
| Higa, Brian |
|
2011 |
|
City and County of Honolulu, HI |
| Horn, Brit |
|
2005 |
|
Sonoma Coast State Beach, CA |
Hunter, Max
| | 2023
| | California State Parks, CA
|
| Ingalls, Chris |
|
2017 |
|
San Diego, CA |
| James, Micheal |
|
2008 |
|
Destin, FL |
| Keulana, Brian |
|
1996 |
|
Honolulu, HI |
| Korber, Paul |
|
1998 |
|
Ventura County, CA
|
Kothlow, Erin
| | 2022
| | California State Parks, CA
|
| Larsen, Billy |
|
2003 |
|
Pismo Beach, CA |
| Leibig, Peter |
|
2010 |
|
San Diego, CA |
| McDonald, Daryl |
|
2010 |
|
San Diego, CA |
McGibney, Thomas
| | 2023
| | Volusia County, FL
|
| Mendez, Ragnar |
|
2014 |
|
Miami, FL |
Meyer, Greg
|
|
2010
|
|
Newport Beach, CA
|
Millard, Sean
| | 2021
| | Virginia Beach, VA
|
| Miller, Ean |
|
2019 |
|
Mendocino, CA |
| Milligan, Joe |
|
1989 |
|
California State Parks, CA |
| Murphy, Timothy |
|
1996 |
|
California State Parks, CA |
Northhelfer, James W.
|
|
2009 |
|
California State Parks, CA
|
| Nowviski, Chris |
|
2004 |
|
Daytona Beach, FL |
Outlaw, Declan
| | 2023
| | Volusia County, FL
|
| Panis, Marc |
|
1989 |
|
Huntington, Beach, CA |
| Pendergraft, Aaron |
|
2016 |
|
Sonoma County, CA |
| Pepper, Laine |
|
1999 |
|
San Diego, CA |
| Quigley, Patrick |
|
1998 |
|
Laguna Beach, CA |
| Quigley, Patrick |
|
1999 |
|
Laguna Beach, CA |
| Raines, Dave |
|
1999 |
|
San Diego, CA |
Rhodes, Riley
| | 2023
| | California State Parks, CA
| Selfridge, Robert
| | 2023
| | Barnegat Light, NJ
|
| Simmons, Jecoa |
|
2004 |
|
Daytona Beach, FL |
Smith, Dylan
|
|
2013
|
|
Long Island, NY
|
| Snow, Kevin |
|
1998 |
|
Laguna Beach, CA |
| Sproull, Mark |
|
1998 |
|
Laguna Beach, CA |
| Stephenson, Michael |
|
1996 |
|
California State Parks, CA |
| Stewart, Bradley |
|
2009 |
|
South Walton Fire District, FL |
Straub, Don
|
|
1992 |
|
California State Parks, CA
|
Sweet, Ben
| | 2024
| | California State Parks, CA
|
| Tegland, Ormand |
|
1998 |
|
Laguna Beach, CA |
Toomsoo, Eric
|
|
2013
|
|
Southeast Region
|
| Trager, Tom |
|
1998 |
|
Laguna Beach, CA |
Urquhart, Rick
|
|
2014
|
|
Daytona Beach, FL |
| Vipond, Jon |
|
2010 |
|
San Diego, CA |
| Wilson, David |
|
2017 |
|
Oceanside, CA |
Wise, Scott
|
|
2014
|
|
Daytona Beach, FL
|
Heroic Acts Award
The highest award presented by USLA to a non-lifeguard is intended to give due recognition to those who have risked their lives to an extraordinary degree in a rescue or attempted rescue of another person (without familial relation to the rescuer). USLA
salutes their bravery, courage, and service to humanity. USLA also extends the Medal of Valor to lifeguards.
Heroic Act Award Recipients
| Adamski, Joe |
|
2004 |
Albert, Joe
| | 2021
| Akoubian, Juliana
| | 2023
|
| Barrera, Richard |
|
2001 |
Battaile, Ben
| | 2024
| Bauer, Shayla
| | 2024
| Baxter, Andrew
| | 2023
| Beard, Landon
| | 2024
|
| Bedwell, Brence |
|
2002 |
Benigno, Zach
| | 2021
|
| Bent, Douglas |
|
1987 |
Berry, Tyler
| | 2023
|
| Billings, Mick |
|
2019 |
| Brave, Dick |
|
1999 |
Briggs, Justin
| | 2024
|
Btesh, Elias
|
|
2019
|
Cannon, Harrison
| | 2023
| Capuana, Anthony
| | 2021
| Carter, Andrew
| | 2023
|
Castillo, Phil
|
|
2013
|
| Cate, Jenipher |
|
2002 |
| Cherry, Scot |
|
1997 |
| Chess, Amos |
|
2004 |
| Chew, Jason |
|
2003 |
| Coleman, Jeffrey |
|
2004 |
Cook, Kaiya
| | 2024
| Cullen, Jocelyn
| | 2024
|
| Daigle, Jeff |
|
2002 |
| Dalton, Charity |
|
1994 |
| Dalton, John |
|
1998 |
Davis, Alex
|
|
2011 |
Defoney, Kevin
| | 2023
|
| Dekle, Jeremy |
|
2004 |
DeMarre, Preston
| | 2022
| Dierstein, David
| | 2021
| Eaton, Susan
| | 2023
|
| Eberhart, Danny |
|
2002 |
| Ephron, Matthew |
|
2019 |
Fioretti, Sabrina
| | 2024
| Fosbeck, Richard
| | 2021
|
Foster, Logan
|
|
2012
|
Gherardi, Brandon
| | 2022
| Glessing, Thomas
| | 2022
|
Gibson, Evan
|
|
2013
|
Gilman, Cole
| | 2024
|
| Gross, John |
|
2002 |
Haddix, Jeremy
|
|
2013
|
| Hammel, Chad |
|
2019 |
Heines, David
| | 2023
| Heines, Tyler
| | 2023
| Herring, Mark
| | 2021
|
| Hodson, Tad |
|
1997 |
| Hurst, Ethan |
|
2019 |
Jackson, Matthew
| | 2021
| Kahler, Chris
| | 2021
|
Keith, Taylor
|
|
2013
|
| Kitmetto, Kiyo |
|
1993 |
Kraklow, Alan
| | 2021
|
Kriby, Lura
|
|
2013
|
| Kruger, Blair |
|
1997 |
Kubarch, Nick
| | 2023
|
| Larson, Anders |
|
2019 |
| Leach, Doug |
|
2019 |
Leonard, Garrett
| | 2022
| Lightsey, Dustin
| | 2022
|
| Linnen, Chuck |
|
1994 |
| Logeman, Thorpe |
|
2005 |
| Lothian, Mackenzie |
|
2005 |
| Loynes, James |
|
2002 |
MacLean, April
|
|
2013
|
MacLean, Eric
|
|
2013
|
MacLean, Lorne
|
|
2013
|
| Marsden, Scott |
|
2002 |
Matherly, Christopher
|
|
2013
|
Mauch, David
| | 2021
|
| McFadden, David |
|
1994 |
| McMullen, Austin |
|
2019 |
McNall, Samantha
| | 2023
|
Meier, Nathaniel
|
|
2010
|
| Nagle, John |
|
2003 |
| O Hara, John |
|
1998 |
Ogden, Spencer
|
|
2002
|
O'Neil, Craig
|
|
2007
|
Paun, Chris
| | 2021
|
| Pena, Joseph |
|
1990 |
Pettersen, Kenneth
| | 2021
|
Pike, Gavin
|
|
2019
|
| Pletch, Theresa |
|
1990 |
| Poplinger, Gretchen |
|
2002 |
Pracht, Andrew
|
|
2011 |
Reed, Hannah
| | 2022
|
| Reger, Robin |
|
2002 |
| Reichartwarfel, Leary |
|
2019 |
Rhodes, Stephen
| | 2022
|
| Richards, Kevin |
|
1990 |
| Richardson, Joe |
|
2002 |
Roberts, Ryan
|
|
2013
|
Robinson, Stacy
|
|
2014
|
| Rogers, Robert |
|
1993 |
| Romberg, Matt |
|
2002 |
Rosso, Louis
|
|
2011 |
Rushing, Michelle
|
|
2013
|
Russell, Ronnie
| | 2022
|
Sanderson, Christopher
|
|
2010
|
Sansone, Michael
|
|
2013
|
Schierloh, Matthew
| | 2021
|
| Schwary, Robert |
|
1994 |
| Scott, Jake |
|
2002 |
Shields, Hugh
| | 2023
|
Skutnik, Lenny
|
|
1982
|
Slahetka, Ted
| | 2023
| Smith, William
| | 2021
|
| Soltero, Gene |
|
2002 |
| Spheeris, Linda |
|
1993 |
Spiller, Jeff
|
|
2011
|
| Stover, Laura |
|
2002 |
| Strickland, Brain |
|
1997 |
Sullivan, Chris
|
|
2011 |
| Sullivan, Terrance |
|
1998 |
| Svejkosky, Danna |
|
2002 |
| Swift, Andrea |
|
2002 |
Stidham, Lane
| | 2022
|
Tesseneer, Tim
|
|
2014
|
Tobey, Jesse
| | 2009
| Townsend, Alex
| | 2022
| Vigiate, Christopher
| | 2024
| Vigilante, Chris
| | 2021
|
| Washam, Robert |
|
1987 |
| Watson, Timothy |
|
2019 |
Weber, Jeffrey
| | 2024
|
| Weck, Roger |
|
1997 |
Wentworth, Sydney
| | 2021
|
White, Bruce
|
|
2013
|
| White, Kyle |
|
2001 |
Whittington, Brian
| | 2024
|
| Willis, Robert |
|
1997 |
| Wise, Gary |
|
2006 |
Woods, Ashley
| | 2024
| Wraight, Adam
| | 2023
| Zhongor, Anthony
| | 2022
|
|
