Valley Preferred Spirit of Courage

2025 Awardees

Spirit of Courage Awards

East Stroudsburg, Courtland St – 3/5/2025
Detective Christopher Shelly, Stroud Area Regional Police Dept.

Wilson Borough, 17th Street – 11/24/2024
Sergeant Jason Hillis, Wilson Police Department
Officer Nick Bramich, Wilson Police Department

Pottsville, Norwegian Manor Apartments- 5/2/2025
Captain Kurt Shelhamer, Pottsville Fire Department
FF Stan Sabol, Pottsville Fire Department
FF Tom Biddle, Pottsville Fire Department
FF James Blake, Pottsville Fire Department
FF Jarett McCabe, Pottsville Fire Department

Robeson Township, White Bear Road – 4/28/2025
Chief Scott Gullo, Friendship Fire Company No 1 of Geigertown
FF Barry Readinger, Friendship Fire Company No 1 of Geigertown
Deputy Chief Brian Rhein, Exeter Township Fire Department
Lieutenant Christian Sixtos-Flores, Exeter Township Fire Department

Altoona, 4th Avenue – 4/26/2025
Captain Cameron Sunderland, Altoona Fire Department
Captain Nicholas Wuckovich, Altoona Fire Department

Prevention Partner Award
Fire Marshal Jeremy Searfoss, Reading Fire Department

Walter J Okunski Phoenix Award
Jason Scott

Chairman’s Award
All First Responders involved in Pennsylvania wildfires

 

Nomination Forms

 

 

NOMINATE A HERO:                    

 

2024 Event

Thank you to everyone who attended or watched the livestream of this year’s event.  Enjoy some pictures of the event!  Photo credit: Photography by Lynn. We look forward to seeing you next year.

 

 

 

2024 Awardees

Spirit of Courage Awards

Shenandoah Heights, Schuylkill County – 12/22/23
Officer Mark Hysock

Hatboro, Fairview Ave – 11/23/2023
Officer Robert McMahon, Sergeant Aaron Simon

Upper Hanover, Big Road – 1/17/2024
Bret Marks

Wilkes-Barre – Northampton St – 2/15/2024
FF/EMT Richard Machey, Jr; Captain Eric Anderson; FF/EMT Ralph Graham

Emmaus – Cold Stream Cir – 6/24/2023
Officer Timothy Kline

Walter J Okunski Phoenix Award
Reeva Gupta

Prevention Partner Award
Chief John Bast

2023 Event

 

Thank you to everyone who attended or watched the livestream of this year’s event.  We look forward to seeing you next year.

Photo credit: Photography by Lynn

 

 

 

2023 Awardees

Spirit of Courage Awards 

Reading, Marion Street – 10/15/2022
Firefighter/EMT Garry Clarke & Firefighter/EMT Joshua Green

 

Reading, Schuylkill Avenue – 10/29/2022
Firefighter/EMT Kevin Ayers, Firefighter/EMT Kieran Dolan, & Firefighter/EMT Ronald Frey

Scranton, Hickory Street – 11/20/2022
Firefig hter Nick Azzarelli, Firefighter Lieutenant Joseph Chesek, Firefighter Kyle Saldonis & Firefighter Captain Matthew McDonald

 

Pottsville, Arch Street – 5/9/2023
Police Officer Michael Hrebik

Palmer Township, Main Street – 5/21/2022
Deputy Fire Chief Jim Alercia, Fire Battalion Chief Ken Sobieski, Police Officer John Billiard, Police Officer Evan Goldstein, Police Officer Kyle Kromer, Police Officer Maurice Burton, Emergency Medical Technician, Christopher Finan, Jr., Paramedic Jeremy Slack, & Dr. Thomas W. Stauffer, DO

West Penn Township, Clamtown Road – 12/7/2022
Assistant Fire Chief Zachary T.A. Paris (Posthumous)
Firefighter Marvin Gruber (Posthumous)

Walter J Okunski Phoenix Award
Leah John

Eleos Award
Jennifer Nagle, RN (Posthumous)

Prevention Partner Award
Fire Chief James Misstishin, Sr.

Chairman’s Award
West Reading, R.M. Palmer Explosion – 3/24/2023
All First Responders involved in incident