The American Red Cross Northern Oklahoma Chapter presented national Lifesaving Awards to two students and one staff member at Oklahoma State University in recognition of their quick action to save another student’s life.

On April 3, 2025, senior Kolsten Gensler was at work on campus in the Colvin Recreation Center. He had just switched areas when he heard that a student had collapsed on the basketball court. Gensler went to see what was happening and discovered it was one of his friends — and he wasn’t breathing.

While Gensler started CPR, fellow student employee Dominic Vaccarello was working on the other side of the building. He heard a radio call asking for someone to call 911 and hurried to the basketball court to help. Gensler had performed eight rounds of CPR and was seeing signs of life when Vaccarello got there and took over.

Dr. Jason Linsenmeyer, assistant director of operations for the Department of Wellness, soon arrived with an AED, and student employee Halle Dugan helped with the device. Campus police officers also took turns giving CPR.

In all, they provided lifesaving aid for almost 10 minutes until paramedics arrived to take the student who had collapsed to the hospital. He is on his way to a full recovery.

"You saved a life. That person is going to go on and do amazing things because of what you did," Red Cross Northern Oklahoma Chapter Executive Director Mathew Hitchcock said during the award presentation to Gensler, Linsenmeyer and Vaccarello at the Seretean Wellness Center on April 3, 2026, one year to the day after the incident.

Dugan also received a Lifesaving Award but was unable to attend the presentation.

"The certificate and the award mean a lot, but him being alive means the most. I don't really care about the certificates and awards. I'm grateful for them but just him being alive- that's all that matters," Gensler told FOX25 after the presentation.

Since a Lifesaving Awards revival in 2018, the Red Cross has awarded over 3,500 individuals worldwide, who have helped to save 1,797 lives. You can recognize an individual or a team of individuals who have saved or sustained a life by visiting LifesavingAwards.org.

During an emergency, every second counts until medical help arrives. Learning first aid, CPR and how to use an AED can give you the confidence to act fast and help save lives. Sign up for a course today at redcross.org.