LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) - The Heroes Game wouldn’t be complete with heroes. Each year, both the Husker and Hawkeye programs select a citizen to be honored during their rivalry game as a way of celebrating those who made a big impact in a Nebraska community that would otherwise go mostly unrecognized.

This year, Nebraska’s pick comes from Columbus and earned the honor before she’s even earned a degree. At just 16 years old, Ashley De La Cruz Martin is a lifesaver.

Back in July, the Columbus native was taking her cousins and little brother to a local water park. On her way in, she saw a frantic crowd in the parking lot gathered around a man who had just collapsed.

A student at Columbus High School, she was weeks removed from learning CPR in class and quickly put her skills to the test.

“I c

See Full Page