12/18/2025
On December 17th, 2025, the Endeavor Emergency Squad held their annual holiday dinner meeting and awards event, while celebrating 85 years of service to our communities. The following awards were bestowed to members of Team Endeavor.
Life Saving Award – Over the course of the past year, members of Team Endeavor used their skill and knowledge to save seventeen lives by performing Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation and rendering other life saving measures. EMTs awarded were:
Johnathan Abdalla, Usame Arcagok, Kyla Bankston, Sonia Borker, Kathrine Cacia, Diana Cordon, Dillon Farkas, Michael Fell, Natalie Hay, Christine Hicks, Tamaya Hill, Laney Himelfarb, John Hinshaw, Aimee Johnsen, Alexis Kovalev, Luke Martinez, Shannon McCusker, Allison McLaughlin, Darius Mosley, Thomas Piper, Rodney Rhoades, Shrinithi Seenivasan, Brittany Stehl, Errol Vereb, James Wallrath, Nicholas Wiggin, Lashem Wongsam.
Prehospital Delivery Award – The crews assisted with the delivery of happy healthy baby girl. EMT’s awarded were:
John Hinshaw, Alexis Kovalev, Rayna Ramirez
Historically Significant Prehospital Delivery Award -1976 – The crews assisted with the delivery of happy healthy baby boy. The mother was so pleased with the response, she named her son after the first responder. EMT awarded was:
Bruce Mogel
Distinguished Service Citation- The recipients were recognized for going above and beyond the normal call of duty. The recipient has given his/her time and services for the betterment of the community and the Squad. The recipients were nominated for this award by their peers. EMTs awarded were:
Kathrine Cacia, Natalie Hay, Christine Hicks, John Hinshaw, Aimee Johnsen, Shannon McCusker, Rayna Ramirez, Brittany Stehl, Errol Vereb, James Wallrath.
Unit Citation Award- The recipients were recognized for performing their duties under an elevated form of duress or personal injury.
The crew responded to a choking victim who went unresponsive. The responding crew performed life saving measures to dislodge the obstruction and save the patient’s life. The EMT’s recognized were:
Michael Fell, Shannon McCusker, Errol Vereb, and Nicholas Wiggin.
Unit Citation Award- The recipients were recognized for performing their duties under an elevated form of duress or personal injury.
The crew responded to a report of a patient experiencing a seizure. Upon arrival the crew was presented with a patient with status epilepticus. The responding crew performed life saving measures and transferred the patient to air medical for rapid transport. The EMT’s recognized were:
Jessica Dixon and Michael Fell
Historically Significant Call of the Year – For outstanding performance at a call that required the recipient to put themselves at extreme personal risk while performing their duty with firmness, courage and absence of indecision. On August 9th, 2000, two planes collided mid-air over Burlington Township, resulting in a mass casualty incident. The responding crews responded and remained on scene for over thirteen hours provided rehab and medical services to hundreds of other responders and civilians. The EMT’s recognized were:
Todd Anderson, Jeremy Bright, Kenneth Brown, Mike Ciemnolonski, Nicole Dahms, Sean Desjardins, Ronald Devlin, Brian Ekelburg, David Ekelburg, Mike Ekelburg, Amanda Hamilton, Leo Knoblaugh, Susan Knoblaugh, Jamie Lambing, John Lambing, James Lowrie, David McClain, Matthew Mercuri, Kenneth Naprawa, Joseph Naprawa, Shaun Powell, Jenna Rogers, Gary Schroeder, Mark Slifko, William Slimm, Steven Toughill, William Upham, and Eric Willitts
Historically Significant Call of the Year – For outstanding performance at a call that required the recipient to put themselves at extreme personal risk while performing their duty with firmness, courage and absence of indecision. On September 11th, 2001, the Endeavor Emergency Squad responded to Jersey City to assist in a mass casualty triage center, then later responded into New York City to assist in a search and rescue mission in the aftermath of the terrorist attack on New York City. The EMT’s recognized were:
Roy Barkewich, Ron Devlin, Brian Ekelburg, Jim Lowrie, Matthew Mercuri, Thomas Orr, Shaun Powell, Michael Scafiro, Keith Scully, Mark Slifko, Rick Smith, Chris Snyder, Steven Toughill, Carolyn Webster, Eric Willitts, and Steven Spellacy.
Call of the Year 2025 – For outstanding performance at a call that required the recipient to put themselves at extreme personal risk while performing their duty with firmness, courage and absence of indecision. On November 17th, 2025, the Endeavor Emergency Squad and Virtua MICU responded to Rt. 130 for a report of a struck pedestrian whom was struck by multiple vehicles. The responding crew secured the patients airway and controlled bleeding before transporting the patient to air medical for rapid transport to a trauma center. The recipients were:
EMT David Lowder, EMT Brittany Stehl, EMT Lashem Wongsam, Assistant Paramedic Chief Eric Jacobs, Paramedic Andrew Colligan, Paramedic Randy Forte, and Paramedic Leon Nable.
EMT of the Year – This recipient is the true essence of a team member and dedicated servant. The recipient is chosen by their peers. The recipient is committed to providing excellent care, compassion and customer service. The recipient does not actively seek recognition or praise for their service. This recipient is always humble and kind. This year’s recipient is:
EMT Thomas Piper.
Background- The Endeavor Emergency Squad is the sole provider of Basic Life Support (BLS) services to the communities of Burlington City, Burlington Township, Edgewater Park Township, Beverly City and approximately one-half of Springfield Township. The Endeavor is a non-profit (501c3) organization. The hybrid organization is comprised of both volunteer and career staff that have been providing BLS services since 1940.
