- April 18, 2024
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Cadet Lt. Col. Giva Clavizzao, holding her Humanitarian Silver Valor Award certificate, along side FPC principal Greg Schwartz and assistant principals Amy Ferrer, left, and Abra Seay. Courtesy photo
U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Melvin Baskerville, left, and Master Sgt. Gardner Holland present Giva Calvizzao with the Humanitarian Silver Valor Award certificate. Courtesy photo
Jacqui Clavizzao pins the Silver Valor Award on her daughter, Giva's, AFJROTC uniform. Courtesy photo
Giva Glavizzao and her mother Jacqui pose with the award certificate. Courtesy photo
Giva Clavizzao poses with her fellow cadets. Courtesy photo
When the student sitting in front of her fell out of his chair and was having a seizure, Giva Clavizzao knew what to do.
The Flagler Palm Coast High School Air Force Jr. ROTC cadet was credited with saving the student’s life last November and was awarded the Humanitarian Silver Valor Award.
“She was Johnny on the spot,” said AFJROTC senior instructor Lt. Col. Melvin Baskerville, who applied for the citation, sending in witness statements.
Clavizzao received her award at a surprise ceremony March 9 at the school.
“It was game day, and I was wearing my flag football jersey,” she said. “I didn’t know I was supposed to be in my (JROTC) uniform.”
“Essentially she utilized all the skills she has learned in the Medical Flagship program and took control of the situation, keeping everybody calm and helping that young man out.”
LT. COL. MELVIN BASKERVILLE
Lt. Col. Baskerville had to call her mom, Jacqui, to bring her uniform.
Clavizzao, a cadet lieutenant colonel, has been in the Air Force JROTC for four years. She is also in FPC’s Medical Flagship and is taking a certified nurse assistant course through Daytona State College.
“She knew since she was 6 that she was going into the medical field,” Jacqui Clavizzao said.
“Essentially she utilized all the skills she has learned in the Medical Flagship program and took control of the situation, keeping everybody calm and helping that young man out,” Baskerville said.
Giva Clavizzao said she was new to the class, a computer lab, and so was the teacher. When the student fell down seizing, nobody did anything anything for a couple of seconds, she said. So she jumped out of her seat and flipped the student on his side.
“I held him, and he stopped seizing and started breathing deeply.”
She called 911, and in short order, the school nurse, the school resource deputy and EMTs arrived.
“I found out later he had epilepsy,” she said. “A week after it happened, he told me, ‘You really helped me. Thank you so much.’ The administrators said this could have been so much worse. My knee-jerk reaction was to get up and help.”
“My knee-jerk reaction was to get up and help.”
GIVA CLAVIZZAO
The Silver Valor Award is the second-highest award a cadet can receive. It is awarded for an act of heroism, such as saving a person’s life, without risking one's own life. The Gold Valor Award is given for saving a life in a situation where the cadet risks their own life.
Clavizzao’s mother pinned the medal onto her uniform.
“It was a special moment,” Giva Clavizzao said. “The next day it was in the announcements, and everybody congratulated me. I’ve been in the (Medical Flaglership) for three years, and they taught us how to handle situations.”
Clavizzao said she had no inkling she had won the award, until the ceremony.
“I’m really proud of Giva,” Lt. Col Baskerville said. “For four years now, she has been a true example of what our program is all about.”
