Heroes Program

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H ER O E S OF OCEANSIDE & CAMP PENDLETON

JUNE 23 RD, 2022 5 - 7 PM ARROWOOD GOLF COURSE 5201 VILLAGE DR, OCEANSIDE

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Thank You

TO OUR SPONSORS PRESENTING SPONSOR

GOLD SPONSORS

LOCAL HEROES AWARD SPONSOR

MILITARY AWARDS SPONSOR

SILVER SPONSORS

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Oceanside

F I R E D E PA R T M E N T AWA R D E E S CHRIS KILMER

FIREFIGHTER / PARAMEDIC

Chris Kilmer is the epitome of what it means to go the extra mile. Throughout his career with the Oceanside Fire Department, Kilmer has never shied away from responsibility.

He is currently a member of the OFD SWAT Medic Team and serves on multiple operations and training cadres. He previously served as the Fire Academy Instructor for several recruit academies. Assigned to the fire department’s truck company, Kilmer is highly skilled in the many technical competencies required for this assignment. Kilmer’s peers have called him a phenomenal paramedic. He is an example and mentor for others to emulate. He puts excellence into everything he does.

Firefighter/Paramedic Kilmer is a one of Oceanside’s best public servants.

GRACIE RAMIREZ

ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARY

Gracie Ramirez holds one of the most public-facing positions at the Fire Department and serves as the Oceanside Fire Chief’s primary administrative support person. She receives and processes the many “Freedom of Information Act” requests received by the fire department. Ramirez is the point of contact for most customer service issues and ensures the inquirer always gets to the right resource needed to address the problem. Ramirez works closely with the Human Resources Department to ensure all personnel needs are met. She is always pleasant in her interactions, strives to answer all questions, and solves the community’s problems. Ramirez is an asset to the City and Department.

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MITCHELL FRAME LIFEGUARD

Lifeguard Mitchell Frame is currently finishing his second year of medical school and has been serving the City of Oceanside as a Lifeguard since 2012. Most notably in his career, on February 26, 2022, Frame received a report on a construction worker who had been struck by a forklift. The injured man was laying down on the second level of the beach bathroom construction site near the pier. Upon arrival, Frame found the patient and provided c-spine stabilization while assessing for other injuries. With the assistance of Fire and Lifeguard crews, Frame stabilized the patient using a c-collar and a backboard. Personnel then extracted the patient safely.

JOHN FARNER LIFEGUARD

Lifeguard John Farner has served the City of Oceanside since 2019. On July 14, 2021, Farner was working at Tower 16. It was on this day that Farner performed an incredible 16 rescues.

Two of the rescues were for two boys who had been swept out in a rip current and were not able to swim to shore. As panic set in, each boy was unknowingly pulling the other under water trying to stay afloat. Farner got to them in time and swam them to shore. This performance and dedication to the team is to be commended from this quiet, yet powerful, lifeguard.

Oceanside

P O L I C E D E PA R T M E N T AWA R D E E S

KATHLEEN KREYLING PUBLIC SAFETY CALL TAKER

Public Safety Call Taker, Kathleen Kreyling, has served the citizens of Oceanside since 2003. She began her career as a Community Service Officer where she worked at the front desk of the Oceanside Police Department. In 2014, Kathleen transitioned into Dispatch where she now serves as a Public Safety Call Taker.

When one finds themselves in an emergency situation and are forced to call 9-1-1, there is a good chance they could be speaking with Kathleen. With her calm demeanor, caring tone, and compassionate heart, she has assisted thousands of people in crisis over the years. She

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can multi-task and gather pertinent information for first responders while assisting citizens through these emergency situations.

There are dozens of examples just in this past year where Kathleen has demonstrated her competency and care when answering 9-1-1 calls. From elderly to children, she always seems to find a way to extract the necessary information and get it to the direct responders on scene.

OFFICER LUKE RUBISH NEIGHBORHOOD POLICING TEAM

Officer Luke Rubish is currently assigned to the Neighborhood Policing Team (NPT). Officer Rubish enjoys the opportunities and challenges that come with his job. He seeks various ways to change the life of someone for the better no matter how small. He understands the impact that this can have on someone’s life.

Officer Rubish was assigned temporarily as a School Resource Officer early in his tenure at NPT. While there he was an asset to the School Safety Enhancement Team and truly connected with the students and administration.

Officer Rubish assists with the Oceanside Youth Program, a character building and mentoring program for teenage youth and aims to reduce juvenile delinquency, lower recidivism, and offer alternatives to street gangs, substance abuse, and a life trapped in the criminal justice system.

Oceanside U N I F I E D

SCHOOL DISTRICT AWARDEES DONNA CONTRADO

HEALTH TECHNICIAN, PALMQUIST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Donna Contrado has been with the Oceanside Unified School District for 24 years. She is a health technician who has gone above and beyond, bringing positivity to her work every day. Contrado is known to be consistently kind and patient. She works nights and weekends to make sure Palmquist families feel safe and supported.

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KRISTINA VASQUEZ

US HISTORY & ENTREPRENEURIAL EXPLORATION TEACHER

EL CAMINO HIGH SCHOOL

Kristina Vasquez is a US History and Entrepreneurial Exploration teacher from El Camino High School who has been with OUSD for nine years. Her passion for teaching and desire to support student success are some of the many reasons she was honored. Her peers say she teaches with her contagious passion for her subject material. She is a collaborator at heart and is constantly learning and sharing ideas. She values and respects each and every student and lets them know every day that they matter.

CARLOS ROZO

DAY LEAD CUSTODIAN, CHÁVEZ MIDDLE SCHOOL

Carlos Rozo is a Day Lead Custodian at Chávez Middle School who has been with OUSD for five years. Rozo was selected because of the pride he takes in his work along with the welcoming demeanor he presents to our students, staff, and families. Rozo is known to be polite and respectful to students and staff. He’s always upbeat and responds efficiently.

REBECCA MICELI

FIRST AND SECOND GRADE TEACHER, DEL RIO ELEMENTARY

Rebecca Miceli is a first and second grade teacher at Del Rio Elementary who has been in the district for 19 years. Her willingness to help others along with the warm, welcoming classroom she provides, are part of why she has made such an impact on the lives of those she works with. She’s known for going above and beyond for her students, teaching far more than the academic content. She strives to give her students a sense of ‘home’ in her classroom; her classroom home is where empathy and sympathy are modeled and explicitly taught.

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Tri-City Medical Center

H E A LT H C A R E A W A R D E E S SARA JAYYOUSI

MSW, LPCC, LCSW, OPERATIONS MANAGER, OUTPATIENT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES

Sarah Jayyousi serves as the Operations Manager for Tri-City Medical Center’s (TCMC) Behavioral Health Services, Intensive Outpatient Program and has been in the mental health field for the past 30 years. During that time, she has worked in county funded programs, hospitals, and outpatient programs. Dually credentialed as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Licensed Professional Counselor, she has held a leadership position in hospital outpatient services for the past 23 years. Jayyousi led a team of clinicians to transform services to be evidence-based and recovery oriented, expanded the Intensive Outpatient Program at TCMC’s Behavioral Health Services and provided specialized services for individuals with anxiety disorders, mood disorders, psychosis and dual recovery needs. In 2006, she was named Clinical Social Worker of the year by the California Society for Clinical Social Work, was selected as lecturer of the year in 2021 at California State University, San Marcos (CSUSM) College of Education, Health and Human Services, and in 2022 she made the San Diego Business Journal list of Top Behavioral Health Professionals. Jayyousi helped immigrants from the Middle East, providing bilingual services for nine years and developing an internship program that helped with staffing. Jayyousi teaches at CSUSM in the master’s in social work program where she prepares students for a career in healthcare/social work and teaches clinical classes and field instruction seminars.

JULIA MONTES

ADVANCED CARE TECHNICIAN, BED STAFFING

Julia Montes is an Oceanside native and has been serving her community through her work as a Nurse Assistant at Tri-City for four years. She provides care and support to patients through physical assistance, managing their dietary needs and recording vital signs. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Montes volunteered at the Tri-City Vaccine Clinic as an observation aid, assisting anyone who felt sick after receiving their shot. Montes says the most important thing about her job is providing the best care for her community by providing a safe space for recovery. Montes serves on the Resource Float Team which covers all areas of the hospital, ensuring all patient needs are met. Montes was born at Tri-City Medical Center and considers it an honor to be providing care for her people of Oceanside.

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JASON TAUA

PATIENT MOBILITY TECH, BED STAFFING

Jason Taua has worked at Tri-City Medical Center for over 20 years as a Patient Mobility Tech Dispatcher, also known as the Lift Team. As a Patient Mobility Tech, Jason is the “muscle” for patients who are immobile. He lifts and repositions patients who are on ventilators and helps patients that are unable to move themselves in order to minimize injury risks. His role is crucial in their care and healing as he transports patients from room-to-room, aids nurses in delivering care and helps with patient discharge. Many times, he has acted as the main provider of chest compressions during CPR for Code Blue emergencies, assisted the Security Officers with patients suffering from mental illness, or responded to a “Dr. Strong” code to help with unruly individuals. It is impossible to walk the hallways of TCMC and run into a nurse that doesn’t know his name. Taua might be the muscle for patients but he is the heart of TCMC. Taua says he loves being part of a special team that cares for patients and gets to help save lives because that’s what it’s all about!

Outside of work, Taua coaches football at El Camino High School where he helps to coach the defensive line. He’s been a coach for 10 years now, 4 of which were with Pop Warner and 6 with High School football. He has also been happily married for over 20 years to his beautiful wife, Saufoi Taua, and has three amazing kids, Daesialeen (21), Desmond (20) and Darian (15).

JESSICA SHRADER

MBA, GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MANAGER

Jessica Shrader is the Government Affairs and Community Engagement Manager at Tri-City Medical Center and has more than two decades of experience developing and managing programs for at-risk communities in education, social services, and healthcare sectors. In her role at Tri-City, Jessica manages all community outreach endeavors including the COASTAL Commitment (Community Outreach and Support Through Active Leadership), Tri-City Medical Center’s award-winning outreach initiative that boasts over 80 community partner organizations. Shrader is an emerging leader in North County and the co-developer of a major workforce development initiative called SOCAL—Student Opportunities for Career Awareness and Learning, which connects students and transitioning adults to local businesses for career exploration through online tools including virtual business and job tours, links to educational resources and more. As part of her thought-leadership in the area of workforce development and education, Shrader serves on the board of directors for the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce, is a member helping develop their new Leadership Academy task force, serves on the Executive Committee’s Nominating Committee, and Chairs their Workforce Development task force which has brought programmatic innovations to the chamber such as the Rising Star student scholarship program. She also serves on the

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Government Affairs Workgroup and the Community Health Needs Assessment Task Force for the Hospital Association of San Diego and Imperial Counties. Shrader has won numerous awards for her leadership and program design, including 18 Finest Awards from the Health Care Communicators of Southern California (HCCSC) in 2021 and 23 Finest Awards in 2022.

Jessica completed her BA in Psychology from UC San Diego and her MBA from the University of Doane with a specialized emphasis in leadership, healthcare management and project management. She is also a graduate of the City of Vista Leadership Academy.

Shrader lives in Vista with her husband and daughter.

Cox is incredibly grateful for all that you do, all that you risk, to take care of our families, friends and our community. You are true heroes and we are honored to celebrate you!

Camp Pendleton

M I L I TA R Y AWA R D E E S CORPORAL FLETCHER D. CROCKETT USMC MILITARY WORKING DOG HANDLER

Corporal Crockett was born in September 1999 in Gwinett County, GA. He enlisted in the Marine Corps and reported for recruit training at MCRD Parris Island, SC on February 19, 2019.

Upon completing recruit training and Marine Combat Training, he attended the Military Police Basic Course at Fort Leonard Wood, MO and earned the military occupational specialty of 5811. While in Military Police Basic Course, Corporal Crockett was selected to be a Military Working Dog Handler, with the secondary military occupational specialty of 5812. He would then attend The Military Working Dog Basic Handler Course at Lackland Air Force Base, TX, where he earned "The Top Dog Award" for Block III, Patrol. In January 2020, Corporal Crockett reported to the Camp Pendleton Provost Marshal's Office where he served as a Military Policeman with 4th Platoon. In June of 2020 Corporal Crockett was reassigned to the Military Working Dog Section, where he was assigned as a Military Working Dog Handler.

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Throughout his time as a Military Working Dog Handler, Corporal Crockett has validated twice on an explosive detection dog and twice on a drug detection dog. Corporal Crockett has served as a Squad Leader for the Military Working Dog Section and is currently serving as the Assistant Trainer.

Corporal Crockett has attended the Inter-service Non-lethal Weapons Instructor Course at Fort Leonard Wood, MO, where he was certified as a Non-lethal Weapons Instructor. Cpl Crockett has attended the Advanced Military Working Dog Trainer's Course at Hill Country Dog Center, Pipe Creek, TX, where he was certified as a Military Working Dog Trainer and E-Collar Instructor. In October of 2021, Cpl Crockett attended the Interdiction Mastermind course hosted by Placentia Police Department, CA, where he learned how to intercept the illegal distribution of narcotics.

CORPORAL SHAINA R. JUPITER USMC COMBAT PHOTOGRAPHER

Corporal Jupiter was born August 2002, in Pembroke Pines, FL. She enlisted in the Marine Corps and reported to recruit training at MCRD Parris Island on August 31, 2020. Upon completing recruit training and Marine Combat Training, she attended the Defense Information School on Fort George G. Meade, MD, and graduated from the Mass Communications Foundations course and the Visual Documentation course to earn the military occupational specialty of 4541 Combat Photographer. Corporal Jupiter graduated as the honor graduate from the Visual Documentation course and was awarded a meritorious mast for her time as a platoon sergeant while at the Marine Detachment, Fort George G. Meade, MD. In September 2021, Corporal Jupiter reported to Marine Corps Installations West Communication Strategy and Operations, where she is still currently serving as a combat photographer. During her time as a combat photographer, Corporal Jupiter earned Communicator of the Quarter for the second quarter of Fiscal Year 2022.

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HM3(FMF) JORDAN W. LUCAS

USN CORPSMAN

HM3(FMF) Jordan W. Lucas, currently assigned to MAG-39, III MAW, and hails from South Haven, Michigan. He provides assistance to 9 Flight Surgeons for aviation healthcare for 3,800 Marines across 13 squadrons. Lucas demonstrated extraordinary commitment and supervised 12 Aerospace Medical Technicians (AVT) in the completion of 176 initial flight physicals, 160 PHAs, 420 sick call appointments, 322 audiograms, and 170 EKGs. As a TCCC-instructor, he facilitated four Combat Life Saver classes to 50 Marines. Motivated ACFL, Lucas led nine command PT events, 10 FEP sessions and 22 BCAs.

HM2(FMF/SW) AMBER HILLBROWN USN CORPSMAN

HM2(FMF/SW) Amber Hillbrown is currently assigned to the I MEF CE Staff and hails from Denver, Colorado. While participating in Exercise DESERT DRAGON. On her most recent deployment to Kuwait, Hillbrown conducted 25 CASEVAC briefs, 408 2 | JUNE 23, 2022 hours of live fire/crew serve weapons coverage, 12 CASEVAC/IED drills, 727 miles of day/night convoy coverage, and 5 combat life saver drills. Hillbrown was also credited with creating a new standard operating procedures for air and ground MEDEVACs, resulting in significant proficiency in her Battery A’s casualty response and increasing the Battery A’s medical posture while deployed in 4th/5th fleets.

We are proud to support all of the Heroes of Oceanside and Camp Pendleton.

Thank you for all you do to serve our community!

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Join the Oceanside Community Foundation, one of the most effective funding forces in supporting, strengthening and growing nonprofits in the Oceanside Community

The Oceanside Chamber is proud to support and recognize all the Heroes of Oceanside and Camp Pendleton.

Thank you for your outstanding contributions to the well-being and advancement of the City of Oceanside.

CONGRATULATIONS

HEROES HONORING ALL NORTH COUNTY HEROES

IT ALL STARTED WITH CARING. Over the years, we

have evolved into a regional healthcare leader while staying true to our mission of advancing the health and wellness of our community.

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