DMACC President Rob Denson (left) honored eight individuals who took heroic actions during a shooting at the DMACC Southridge Center in early October. Some of those emergency actions included providing lifesaving first aid to the shooting victim, alerting students, faculty and staff to take cover and locking down the building. Denson presented medallions reading “DMACC salutes your bravery and valor – October 3, 2022 DMACC Southridge Center” to Automotive Collision Repair Instructor Ted Lesher, Academic Advisor Berenice Real-Rodriquez, Information Specialist Jessica Edmundson, DMACC Southridge Center Security Officer Dwane Cason Jr., Nursing Education Coordinator for Continuing Education Tammy Steinwandt and Custodian Alex Alvarez.  Others honored but not able to attend the event included Certified Nurse Aide Faculty member Jennifer Carpenter and DMACC Continuing Education Executive Director Michael Hoffman. 

The presentations were made at a recent DMACC Board of Trustees meeting.  Denson said the group’s quick-thinking actions saved one life that day and quite possibly saving others from injury during the shooting. 

“We’re grateful that no students, faculty or staff were injured. We’re also thankful and appreciative of those individuals who stood up and made a life-saving difference,” Denson said.  He also thanked Southridge Center Director Melinda Williams and Urban Campus Provost Anne Howsare-Boyens for their leadership that day and throughout this tragic affair.

Here is a close-up of the medallion presented to Nursing Education Coordinator for Continuing Education Tammy Steinwandt. 

(contributed press release)