Norwich - It's been three years since 15-year-old Norwich Free Academy student Larry Pontbriant collapsed and later died of sudden cardiac arrest while participating in a fundraiser run at Mohegan Park.

But his shocking death felt fresh to nearly 100 students, teachers, family members and others gathered to honor NFA videography students Josh Cingranelli, 17, of Lisbon and Michael Grant, 17, of Norwich, both juniors, and members of the school's Young Voters' Society.

Their video won a national award from the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation for its emotional portrayal of Pontbriant's life and its awareness message that automated external defibrillators can save lives of healthy, young people stricken by sudden cardiac arrest.

"A few months ago, I watched your video and it made me cry," said Carolyn Whitehead, a sudden cardiac arrest survivor and wife of Jeremy Whitehead, director of the foundation's National Survivor Registry. "A few days ago I saw it again, and it made me cry."

On Thursday, Carolyn Whitehead cried again, along with nearly everyone in the room who watched the three-minute video during the awards ceremony. No one called for a moment of silence when the video, "How to Save a Life," ended.

Speakers who followed the video had difficulty starting and finishing their sentences. Some apologized as they struggled. "Three years ago, our school and community lost a tremendous young man," said Laura Binder, adviser to the Young Voters' Society.

Binder knew and had taught Pontbriant and called the society's work "deeply personal" for the students and teachers involved. Along with Larry's parents, Larry and Evelyn Pontbriant, the NFA group launched a campaign to get state legislation passed that now requires defibrillators to be installed in schools.

For the video contest, the foundation asked defibrillator manufacturer Zoll Medical Corp. of Chelsmford, Mass., to contribute two defibrillators as the prize. Company representative Leslie Zoll presented the two devices to Grant and Cingranelli Thursday.

The two students in turn gave one to NFA Head of School Mark Cohan and the second to Evelyn Pontbriant as a donation to the Larry Pontbriant Athletic Safety Fund, which raises money and donates defibrillators to schools in 42 eastern Connecticut towns that can't afford to purchase them.

Evelyn Pontbriant at first silently nodded her acceptance and appreciation. A minute later, she took the podium. She said she hears the joy in school officials' voices when she calls them to offer a defibrillator to their schools. She said the fund has donated 60 defibrillators thus far to schools and athletic fields.

"This will be placed in one of those communities," she said.

c.bessette@theday.com