Santiago Aguilar

Recently during lunch, Santiago’s quick thinking and action saved the life of a fellow student, showcasing courage and compassion far beyond his years. While sitting with his friends, one of them tapped Santiago’s arm and motioned that he was choking. Without hesitation, Santiago began hitting his friend’s back to try and clear his airway. As the situation grew urgent, he then attempted to perform the Heimlich maneuver and after various tries, the obstruction was finally cleared and his friend was able to breathe again. The relief was evident as the young man wiped tears from his face and was grateful to Santiago for saving his life. Although he admitted that he felt nervous, he remained focused and knew he had to stay calm to help his friend. Outside of this life-saving moment, Santiago is focused on his academics and is also active in the school’s SWAT Club and basketball team. His heroic actions are a testament to the kind of young man he is: compassionate, quick-thinking, and brave.