The Rotary Club of Blacksburg presents a First Responder of the Year Award every year, to shine a light on our first responders and their contributions, sacrifices, professionalism and commitment to Blacksburg and Montgomery County and to say thank you.
While the award is presented to one person, it is intended that the Award honor all our first responders.
Tommy Loflin introduced the program and spoke about the commitment to our community by first responders. They sacrifice their personal time to aid us during bad weather, emergencies, tragedies and crisis situations. Their lives revolve around service to the area. They truly are real life heroes.
The 2025 First Responder of the Year Award was presented to Catie Davis, a member of the Blacksburg Volunteer Rescue Squad (BVRS). Davie English, Davis’s chief, nominated her for the award.
Davis has been an active volunteer for over 20 years. In 1995, she got her EMT certification. Then in March 2005, she became certified as an EMT-Intermediate providing advanced life support.
In 2005, her husband, Scott, accepted a job at Virginia Tech so they moved to Blacksburg and Davis joined the BVRS. They moved from Richmond where she had been on a Volunteer Rescue Squad. In 2008, she was voted Member of the Year and she achieved Life Membership in 2015.
In 2016, Davis became the Junior Crew Advisor overseeing the Junior Program which allows high school students at age 16 to join and learn about Emergency Medical Services (EMS). She has been the Quality Assurance Manager for many years and oversees a peer review committee that ensures quality patient care. For the last 10 years, Davis has also served as a Field Supervisor. She oversees operations for a 12-hour shift and is in charge of a big emergency or event.
Last year, the BVRS received the Governor’s Award for Outstanding EMS Agency. The Blacksburg Rescue Squad is one of the top rescue squads in Virginia.
Numerous stories were shared by Toya Earley, a close friend and long-time squad member, as she introduced Davis and talked about how she goes above and beyond what is expected.
“Even when Catie is off duty, she is on duty,” said Earley. “I am incredibly thankful to have Catie in my life.”
Responders and Davis’s family attended the Rotary meeting. Everyone agreed that Davis was truly deserving of the honor. One responder said, “This is the smiling face you want to see getting out of the ambulance.”
The award includes a $1000 donation to a charity of the recipient’s choice. Davis requested that the donation be made to the BVRS so that it can be directed toward a specific program to assist members of the squad.
Davis has been an advocate for mental health wellness among the crew. She often reaches out after a rough call. She checks on responders to make sure they are ok after awful calls. She is known for her “mothering capabilities and stays in touch with squad members who have moved on.”
The Blacksburg Volunteer Rescue Squad has about 170 active volunteer members and in 2025, they answered 3800 calls and put in 90,000 volunteer hours. The BVRS shows up when the community needs them the most.
Davis told Rotary she was “truly thankful to be recognized for the hard work of Responders. BVRS is her second family and means so much to her.” Everything she does is to help her community, friends, family, and anyone in need. She exemplifies the Rotary motto, “Service Above Self.” As Loflin said, “Catie is a Super Hero!”
Terri Lynn Howard
Rotary Club of Blacksburg
