Blakenship, Stevenson named RBP’s Co-Lifeguard of the Year
For what appears to be the first time in the 103-year history of Rehoboth Beach Patrol, two people have been named the Lifeguard of the Year.
The city announced that Tori Blakenship, a five-year veteran of the beach patrol, and Dionn Stevenson, a four-year veteran and lieutenant, had been given the honor at the beach patrol’s annual Lifeguard Ball a few weeks ago. This award is voted on by all lifeguards and EMTs.
The two lifeguards and friends said they weren’t expecting the honor. They also each received a Valor Award for a Fourth of July rescue.
“I knew some people had voted for me, but I was so surprised,” said Blakenship.
“I wouldn’t want to share it with anyone else,” said Stevenson.
Blakenship said she wasn’t going to return to RBP this summer because she had graduated college and thought she was going to be getting a “big girl” job. That didn’t happen, so she reached out to Capt. Jeff Giles, and she was welcomed back, she said.
This statement drew a laugh from Stevenson, who is going to be in the same situation next summer after graduating from nursing school this coming December. She said she plans to come back next year.
“There’s always one more summer,” said Stevenson.
The whole staff couldn’t be happier, said Giles on Blakenship and Stevenson winning the award. They’re two committed veterans of the beach patrol whom the other guards look up to, he said.
Chief Rich Szvitich is in charge of running the voting operation. He makes an envelope by stapling a white piece of paper together, which is ripped open at the end to make sure no votes are left behind. This year there actually was one missed vote, which turned out to be a good thing because Blakenship was down a vote, he said.
When the city announced Blakenship and Stevenson had won the honor on its Facebook page, the notice said it was the first time in beach patrol history two lifeguards were given the award.
Szvitich said there’s still some investigation going into the proclamation. A guard from the mid-‘90s read the post and reached out to say he had also shared the award when he won it, he said.
“Regardless, the kids love them. They both have an infectious personality that’s fun and great to be around,” said Szvitich.
