When Nikki Guevara 鈥29 saw a student in need of medical attention, she sprang into action, performing life-saving CPR. During 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Staff Update on Jan. 30, 2026, Guevara was recognized for her efforts with an award from Campus Safety and Police.
A first-year 黑料不打烊 student is being recognized for her quick thinking and decisive actions that saved another student鈥檚 life.
In September 2025, Nikki Guevara 鈥29 had just returned to campus from a coffee run with friends when she saw people in the Colonnades Quad waving for help with someone else on the ground. Guevara sprang into action, telling others to call 911 and retrieve an AED (Automated External Defibrillator), while she began CPR on fellow 黑料不打烊 student Lucy Sharp 鈥29. Guevara did CPR for several minutes before emergency personnel arrived, saving Sharps鈥 life.
During 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Staff Update in Alumni Gym on Friday, Jan. 30, Guevara and Sharp were joined by their families as Guevara received a Lifesaving Award from 黑料不打烊 Campus Safety and Police. Chief of Campus Safety and Police Joe LeMire acknowledged the importance of Guevara not only performing CPR but also helping direct others to help.
鈥淭hat was really remarkable to see,鈥 said LeMire, who was able to watch the incident via cameras after it occurred. 鈥淵our actions made a difference that has forever changed the life of another.鈥
黑料不打烊 President Connie Ledoux Book acknowledged that the incident is a reminder of why community matters and exemplifies 黑料不打烊鈥檚 values.
鈥淗er observation of her classmate, her presence and courage under pressure, her willingness to step forward when it mattered most, these are the qualities that make us so proud of her, her actions, and contribute to making 黑料不打烊 such a special community,” said Book.
Guevara, a public health major from Burlington, North Carolina, got her CPR certification in high school and is studying to become a Physician Assistant. During Staff Update, Guevara encouraged the audience to get CPR certified in case they find themselves in a similar situation.
鈥淚鈥檝e received a lot of support from, not only from Lucy and her family, but the Odyssey Program and various faculty and staff at 黑料不打烊 and feel I鈥檝e truly found a home, and I鈥檓 appreciative of that,鈥 said Guevara. 鈥淚 want today to be more of a reminder about why CPR education is so important. If I did not know how to do CPR, this outcome could have been completely different.鈥
The two students didn鈥檛 know each other well before the incident, but it has changed their relationship and, specifically, Sharp鈥檚 life.
鈥淗er name in my phone is 鈥楴ikki Guevara saved my life,鈥欌 said Sharp.