From the Southwest to the Capitol: Advocates champion funding HEARTS Act
Magnus Miller never anticipated his lifeguard training would one day help him save a life, but that’s what happened this past January.
Miller, who is now a freshman at the University of Oklahoma, was playing a high school basketball tournament in a rural part of the state on an unusually cold and icy morning. Just a few minutes into the game, an opposing player collapsed after making a layup. Coaches and other spent a minute or two assessing what was wrong. With his training, Miller said he knew he had to step in.
He started CPR on the young man and then administered a shock from an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) that another student had retrieved. Miller and others performed CPR for the half hour it took the paramedics to arrive. Thanks to their action, the young man survived.
This is the powerful story Miller took to Washington, D.C. to tell his legislators in October. He was one of about 150 Association advocates who traveled from 47 states to talk with their legislators about funding the HEARTS Act — legislation designed to ensure every school is prepared to respond to a cardiac emergency.
Miller’s heroic actions earned him the American Heart Association’s HeartSaver Hero Award and a platform to advocate for stronger emergency response plans in schools. He was one of 17 Southwest Region advocates who told their stories to lawmakers. The HEARTS Act was signed into law in December 2024. It created a grant program at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to help K–12 schools Train students and staff in CPR; purchase and maintain AEDs, and develop cardiac emergency response plans. The program also supports research into cardiomyopathy and other conditions that cause cardiac arrest in youth.
Hearts on the Hill 2025 attendees
Arkansas: Abigail Davis, Kennedy Holland, Klaire Holland
Colorado: Abbey Hogan
Oklahoma: Magnus Miller, Deshawn Caldwell
Texas: Jesus Barajas, Jason Chapman, Stephanie Chapman, Dr. Brittany Clayborne, Micah Clayborne, Anderson Doan, Edward Doan, Sadie Schiermeyer, Dr. Nancy Torres
Wyoming: Toni and James Decklever
Arkansas
ABIGAIL DAVIS joined the American Heart Association’s Sweetheart Program at 15 to learn about heart disease prevention. Just a month later, she lost her grandfather, “Pap,” to a heart condition, an event that inspired her lifelong commitment to advocacy. Since then, Abigail has shared his story and
championed heart health across the country. Abigail was named Arkansas’ first Youth Advocate of the Year in 2018 and the National Youth Advocate of the Year in 2019.
KENNEDY HOLLAND is a proud advocate for the American Heart Association and continues to promote legislation for cardiovascular health. She is Miss Arkansas 2025, a nonprofit founder, and a senior at the University of Central Arkansas. A long-time champion for kids with disabilities, Kennedy recognizes the intersectionality of cardiovascular disease and intellectual and developmental disabilities. Having seen firsthand how cardiovascular disease impacts families, Kennedy is committed to making a difference through her voice and leadership.
KLAIRE HOLLAND is from Greenwood and a junior at Greenwood High School. A proud officer in her school’s FFA chapter, she is passionate about agriculture education and heart health. Her connection to the American Heart Association is personal — three of her grandparents required open-heart surgery, inspiring her to champion healthier habits among her peers by encouraging exercise and nutritious eating.
Colorado
ABBEY HOGAN had a daughter suffer a cardiac arrest who survived. Since then, Abbey has advocated for AEDs and cardiac emergency response plans. She is part of the Who We Play For advocacy group, which is a part of the Smart Hearts Coalition in Colorado. She has advocated for AEDs and CPR training at the Colorado state legislature as part of the Association’s CPR Lobby Day in 2025.
Oklahoma
DESHAWN CALDWELL is a cardiac arrest survivor and former high school athlete. A recent graduate of Oklahoma State, he now champions CPR education and cardiac emergency response plans through his advocacy with the American Heart Association. He has helped push legislation that equips schools with lifesaving tools and training. He has twice traveled to Washington, D.C to advocate for the HEARTS Act.
MAGNUS MILLER, a trained lifeguard, saved an opposing high school player’s life during a cardiac emergency by performing CPR and using an AED. His heroic actions earned him the American Heart Association’s HeartSaver Hero Award and a platform to advocate for cardiac emergency response plans in schools. He spoke during the 2025 Oklahoma Lobby Day on behalf or funding for Cardiac Emergency
Response Plans and met with Oklahoma Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell. Magnus is now a freshman at the University of Oklahoma.
Texas
JESUS BARAJAS Inspired by his aunt’s stroke three years ago, Jesus Barajas is passionate about advocating for the HEARTS Act, recognizing its importance in protecting lives in schools and promoting lifelong heart and brain health through healthy habits. In addition to his work as an instructor and advocate, Jesus serves as a member of the American Heart Association’s Emergency Cardiovascular Care
(ECC) Committee, which helps establish national standards for resuscitation and cardiac arrest response.
JASON GREY CHAPMAN of Helotes is a freshman at Texas A&M University studying Neuroscience with plans to pursue a career in research. A lifelong supporter of the American Heart Association, he has championed CPR education and awareness throughout Texas. Jason has conducted CPR demonstrations across the state and is a passionate advocate for emergency preparedness and giving students the opportunity to learn lifesaving skills.
STEPHANIE CHAPMAN is a seasoned health strategist with over 26 years of leadership at the American Heart Association, where she currently serves as Senior Consultant of Community Impact for the Southwest region. Based in San Antonio, Stephanie leads the region’s Nation of Lifesavers initiative — a bold, multi-sector effort to transform public response to out-of-hospital cardiac arrest through policy reform, education, and systems change. Her work spans six states, where she mobilizes staff and volunteers to build a culture of lifesaving action.
DR. BRITTANY CLAYBORNE is a psychologist, speaker, and advocate living with Danon’s Disease, a rare genetic condition that causes cardiomyopathy. Her condition went undetected until adulthood, even as she actively participated in school activities — unaware that she was at risk of sudden cardiac arrest. Today, she works alongside the American Heart Association to raise awareness about the importance of early detection, heart screenings, and emergency preparedness in schools. For Dr. Clayborne, the HEARTS Act represents awareness, access, and action that could protect countless young lives like hers and her son’s.
MICAH CLAYBORNE In seventh grade, Micah Clayborne was suddenly diagnosed with Danon’s Disease after doctors discovered his heart was functioning at just 7%. This was during a time when he was active in school athletics, had passed physicals, and was told he was simply “lazy” or “slow.” After treatment and ultimately a heart transplant, Micah turned his experience into purpose — he’s now a member of his school’s sports medicine team and has made it his passion to champion the physical and mental health of other teens. Supporting the HEARTS Act matters deeply to him because he knows firsthand how awareness and preparedness in schools can save lives.
ANDERSON DOAN is a sophomore at Cedar Ridge High School in Round Rock. He is a dedicated student leader and public health advocate. After becoming CPR certified through the American Heart Association and realizing the importance of these skills, he was inspired to found a Heart Club at his high school. Through this chapter, Anderson works to provide students and faculty with crucial, lifesaving skills and raises awareness about cardiac emergencies.
EDWARD DOAN is an enterprise technology executive who has started new lines of business and led large global teams at well-known tech companies. He has been at Google for 15 years and leads the design and build process for Chromebooks, which are now used by millions of schoolchildren, consumers, and enterprise users across the world. Edward is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of Texas at Austin’s McCombs School of Business, where he teaches cloud computing and web app development.
SADIE SCHIERMEYER is an emerging and engaging national voice for whole person wellness. Through her initiative, “Healthier Texas: How Are You Really?” and in partnership with Healthier Texas and the American Heart Association, she equips thousands of children and families with preventative health education and practical tools to thrive mentally, emotionally and physically. Sadie is pursuing her master’s degree in professional counseling.
DR. NANCY TORRES Is a dedicated educator and advocate, deeply committed to fostering overall wellness within the communities she serves. With 25 years of teaching experience enriching the lives of students, teachers, families, and communities, she brings a wealth of knowledge and heartfelt passion to her work. She has worked with the Association since her first year of teaching with Jump Rope and Hoops for Heart. At Canutillo ISD she works with the Association on student CPR, Kids Heart Challenge, and teacher/staff wellness.
Wyoming
TONI DECKLEVER, MA, RN, is the Training Center Coordinator for CPR Plus, one of
Wyoming’s American Heart Association Training Centers. With more than 35 years
of experience teaching CPR and First Aid, she leads efforts to certify healthcare
professionals, educators and community members in lifesaving skills. She has
previously advocated for a CPR training requirement in Wyoming High Schools.