BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, October 14, 2026 — Three members of the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets have received the Cadet Life Saving Award for their responses during separate emergencies. The Cadet Life Saving Award is a rare distinction presented only when a cadet’s response demonstrates extraordinary courage and a commitment to protecting the lives of others.
On April 25, following Final Review for the Spring 2026 semester, sophomore cadets Camila Ospina of Company K-1 and David Berry of Company P-2 saw a man collapsed near Texas Avenue.
After assessing the situation, Ospina placed the man in a recovery position. The man was unresponsive and began convulsing. Berry contacted emergency personnel while assisting Ospina in keeping him safely on his side. The cadets remained with the man until paramedics arrived and transported him to the hospital.
Ospina and Berry both credited the Corps with fostering mutual trust and confidence in each other’s abilities, enabling them to tackle the emergency as a team.
“The Corps taught me to wholeheartedly trust my buddy. After going through fish year together, which was difficult, it taught me to have faith in my buddy and her instructions. Through her guidance, we were able to safely place the man into a recovery position until Paramedics arrived,” said Berry.
In a separate incident, senior cadet Benjamin Claypole of Company E-1 came to the aid of a woman who had been struck by a vehicle while riding a moped. Claypole used his shirt to apply pressure to the woman’s wound and continued assisting her until medical personnel arrived.
To Claypole, the response was instinctive. In a stressful and rapidly unfolding moment, he said muscle memory and faith took over.
“I really believe the Lord put me in the right place at the right time for a reason. In moments like that, all your training kicks in to keep you from hesitating, and I just trusted my faith that God gave me the calm mindset I needed,” said Claypole.
“I focused entirely on the person in front of me, taking it one step at a time and acting as fast as I could. For me, serving others is a big part of both my faith and what we learn in the Corps.”
For Ospina, Berry and Claypole, the recognition reflects more than their immediate response in an emergency. It reflects the Corps values of selfless service, integrity and leadership in action.
“These cadets are a perfect embodiment of what our Corps Values demand, and how the Corps of Cadets develops leaders of character who are prepared to step forward when circumstances demand it,” said Mackenzie Cronin, 2026-2027 Corps Commander.
“Cadets Ospina, Berry and Claypole demonstrated that leadership is not just a title or a position. It is the willingness to act immediately, and with compassion and courage, when another person needs help most.”
“This award is one of the highest forms of recognition that we have the privilege of giving in the Corps of Cadets. It is only given to cadets who exemplify the highest standard of character, and who act immediately in the face of adversity to save someone’s life. This award is given very rarely, and it is an honor to be able to give it to not one, but three cadets who have displayed our values so clearly,” Cronin explained.
Their actions serve as a reminder that leadership is not always a grand gesture. Sometimes, it means stopping when others pass by, remaining calm amid uncertainty and using one’s skills to care for a stranger.
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