In a moment she’ll never forget, Rockwall ISD student Chelsie Wood was surprised with tickets to the upcoming Super Bowl during a school assembly hosted at Pullen Elementary on September 5. The celebration was organized by the American Heart Association (AHA) in partnership with the NFL Foundation to recognize Chelsie’s dedication to heart health education.
Chelsie, who attended Celia Hays Elementary last year, participated in the American Heart Association’s Kids Heart Challenge™, where she learned Hands-Only CPR and shared her knowledge with others. That commitment to spreading lifesaving skills earned her a spot in the national program’s recognition—along with two tickets to one of the biggest sporting events of the year: Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
The surprise announcement took place in front of cheering classmates, teachers, and special guests. The Dallas Cowboys’ mascot Rowdy helped deliver the news in a high-energy entrance, followed by an NFL PLAY 60 activity and a CPR dance party that had students on their feet.
Local leaders including Rockwall ISD Superintendent Dr. John Villarreal and Pullen Elementary Principal Hudspeth joined American Heart Association representatives in celebrating Chelsie and highlighting the importance of heart health education in schools.
Chelsie was one of just five students nationwide to receive Super Bowl tickets through the program. At the same time, five schools across the country were each awarded $10,000 fitness equipment makeovers.
“At the American Heart Association, our future is about improving yours,” said Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association. “Through the generous incentives provided by the NFL we are working together to motivate more students to complete the Hands-Only CPR module and share what they learned with their families, expanding awareness of how to respond in a cardiac emergency.”
The NFL’s support also includes a CPR education video featuring Buffalo Bills safety and cardiac arrest survivor Damar Hamlin, who credits CPR with saving his life. His message now plays before the Kids Heart Challenge Hands-Only CPR online module, encouraging students nationwide to learn this lifesaving skill.
For Chelsie, those lessons already made an impact—and now she and her family will enjoy the experience of a lifetime at the Super Bowl.
This story was prepared with information provided by the American Heart Association.
