University officials awarded three students on Friday in Talley Student Center for their heroic actions — saving a fellow student’s life — in early September.

Chancellor Randy Woodson, along with Student Body President Kelly Hook and other University representatives, awarded Matthew Cross, Christian Olson and Jonathan Smetana the N.C. State Lifesaving award for using CPR to keep Spencer Shell alive after he collapsed while jogging beside Harris Field on Sept 3.

After Shell, a junior in political science, went into cardiac arrest, the three students performed CPR. Several others helped before emergency services arrived.

Shell was present at the event and said he was fine, completely healthy and getting back into a routine. David Rainer, the associate vice chancellor of environmental health and public safety, was also present at the ceremony and said the student body went above and beyond the call of duty during the Spencer Shell incident.

“This is a celebration of life, partnership and team effort,” Rainer said. “Shell collapsed and he didn’t have an identity either, students responded to the situation, this shows the quality and the responsibility of our student body.”

According to Woodson, the event occurred at a spot on campus where there were lots of people around to help.

“There were people around who knew what to do before emergency services arrived, I am really proud of the N.C State students and community,” Woodson said.

Shell said he has no doubts after this incident that miracles happen, if the right people are present at the right time.

“I have absolutely no fear, insecurity or fear that healing happens, truth happens and we will see hope come back. Mountains will move, oceans will part and God that lives, we are in His hands,” Shell said.

Shell said he felt grateful for his life and wanted to thank everyone who was present and helped him survive and recover.

“It’s an awesome pleasure to stand in front of everyone alive, it was a divine and miraculous thing that happened with the help of amazing technology and medical care,” Shell said.

Several other students also received awards for their roles in the incident. Assir Abushouk, David Barbee, Max Daniel, Kate Gilbertson and Patrick McGrath were awarded the Citizen Citation Award.

Matthew Cross, a freshman in business administration, said his training helped him through the shocking incident.

“It was a great adrenalin rush. I am a trained fire fighter and this wasn’t out of the world but I was not expecting an incident like this at school,” Cross said.

According to Cross, it was his first-time using CPR in a real-life scenario and the only thing that could have made more of a difference was a defibrillator.

Cross’ girlfriend, Sara Hora, was present when the incident happened and said everyone worked as a collective group to help Shell.

“I am very proud of [Cross]. It was really scary, but everyone helped and kept it under control,” Hora said.

Another of the heroes, Jonathan Smetana, a junior in sports management, said he was trained in CPR just two weeks before the incident.

“I just did what any person would have done at that time. I saw the need and I acted,” Smetana said.

Smetana said he had lunch with Spencer Shell and it was encouraging to see him do well.

Nancy Waters, Smetana’s mother, said she felt Smetana had been put in that situation for a reason.

“I am just glad that God placed Jonathan and everyone else in the right position,” Waters said.

The third of the award recipients, Christian Olson, a graduate student in business administration, said he was humbled by the award but also embarrassed for receiving it.

“It was very rewarding to see him alive and doing well. I feel embarrassed for getting this award, because I feel it’s expected of myself or others with these skills to aid in a situation like that,” Olson said.

Olson said it’s our duty to use the life saving skills that we have if a situation like this one occurs.

According to Olson’s father, Jerry Olson, he was involved in a similar lifesaving situation before in Hawaii but be never got a chance to meet the man.

Jerry Olson said it is necessary for everyone to be trained in CPR techniques and people should volunteer to learn these techniques.

“Everyone should learn these techniques during their high school or everyone should volunteer to learn them. Either learn them or be around Christian,” Jerry Olson said.

Koby Shell, Spencer’s mother said, “I am blessed, thankful, amazed and overwhelmed with the love of people.”

Shell said she feels her perspective towards life has changed after the incident.

“Life is precious and short. Life can go away like that. I am lot more thankful to God daily for life of my son and all my children,” Koby Shell said.