Cardiac Arrest Survivor Empowers Next Generation of First Responders at Sinclair

From surviving sudden cardiac arrest to empowering the next generation of lifesavers. In August 2017, Springboro resident Jim Westendorf went for a routine run after work. He suffered sudden cardiac arrest. Thanks to swift action from bystanders and the incredible Clearcreek Township first responders, Jim survived a life-threatening crisis.

Grateful for a second chance at life, Jim and his wife, Lisa Dennison, turned their gratitude into action. Though neither attended nor had any prior connection to Sinclair Community College, they established the Westendorf Have a Heart Foundation Scholarship at the Sinclair Foundation in 2021 to annually support local first responders learning their trade right here in our community.

So far, the impact has been tremendous - $12,500 awarded in scholarships since 2021 with fifteen (15) student recipients supported on their path to becoming EMTs and first responders.

This week, as a new cohort of Sinclair EMT students step into Sinclair’s Health Sciences Center (Building 14) for their very first CPR and AED lab, Jim and Lisa are visiting campus to share their story, kick off the semester, and remind these future heroes just how vital their training truly is for those in our community.

Sinclair Community College would like to thank both Jim and Lisa for paying it forward each year and helping Sinclair train the lifesavers of tomorrow.