About Us

Our Mission and History

Harper's Heart Heroes is an organization made up of kids who teach kids how to save a life by giving instruction on what to do in a medical emergency, including hands-only CPR. There are currently very few programs that teach CPR to elementary students. Harper’s Heart Heroes fills that gap. All of our team members have successfully completed the cognitive and skills evaluations in accordance with the curriculum of the American Heart Association Heartsaver CPR AED Program.The group became a non-profit in 2024.

Our Team

Hazel Arugaslan | President, Board of Directors

Hazel is a senior at Mattawan High School. She is a summer camp volunteer at her former school and loves interacting with kids. She became interested in learning and teaching about what to do in an emergency when her grandmother had a stroke at home when Hazel was little. Quick action of others saved her grandmother’s life, but her left hand has remained paralyzed. Harper’s Heart Heroes enables Hazel to engage with kids while helping them help others. She wants to become a medical doctor to save more lives in the future. Hazel also enjoys playing her French horn and guitar, singing, acting in musicals, playing tennis, and reading.

Cambrie Bencik | Chief Executive Officer

Cambrie is a senior at Portage Central High School. She volunteers for animal sanctuaries and is compassionate about the lives of all living creatures. Cambrie has volunteered for FEMA, collecting supplies when her neighborhood was hit with severe storms. Harper’s Heart Heroes allows her to contribute more to the health and well-being of others. She is a soccer goalkeeper, high school band member, and singer. In addition, she is pursuing the IB program at her school. Cambrie loves learning languages and has attended a Spanish immersion camp in Peru.

Bodie DeVetter | Director of Technology

Bodie is a freshman at Portage Central High School. He loves all things technology, especially building machines. Participating in Destination Imagination competitions over the years have further inspired him to build things. He joined Harper’s Heart Heroes because he wanted to put his passion for building to good use when helping save lives, for example, by using AEDs (automatic external defibrillator). He is a soccer player and certified soccer referee. Bodie loves to travel and experience different cultures.

Lara Arugaslan | Director of Communications

Lara is a sophomore at Mattawan High School. She plays soccer for her high school team and TKO Premier club team. Helping is such a big passion for Lara that she is prouder of her assists than the goals she scores herself. Lara teaches soccer to young kids at her team’s camps and wants to be a sports medicine doctor. Lara joined Harper’s Heart Heroes when she realized she can teach kids what to do in a medical emergency on the soccer fields and elsewhere. Lara also plays pickleball and she is an avid reader.