Tedisco Honors “Real Superheroes” Scotia-Glenville 8th Graders Who Saved Two People from Drowning

Senator Jim Tedisco (R,C,I, REF-Glenville) today at the state Capitol honored and presented the New York State Senate Liberty Medal, the Senate’s highest honor, to three Scotia-Glenville Middle School students, who helped rescue two distraught individuals from drowning in Collins Lake in Scotia.

The 14-year-old students, Ava Horton, Meka Boncie-Machin and Emily St. John, were at Collins Lake in Scotia on April 23, 2019, when they witnessed a visibly disoriented man enter the water, and then watched as the man’s mother ran in after him and began calling for help as she could not swim.  

Responding without hesitation or regard for their own safety, Ava Horton immediately dialed 911 while Meka Boncie-Machin jumped into the water to help.  

After realizing the victim was unconscious, Meka attempted to drag both the man and his mother toward the shore. Emily St. John then jumped in the water to help her struggling friend, during which time the police arrived and were able to complete the rescue.

“Superheroes are all the rage in our popular culture.  However, real heroes don’t wear capes or walk on walls, they’re ordinary citizens who do extraordinary things to help their fellow citizens and that’s exactly what these three young people, Ava Horton, Meka Boncie-Machin and Emily St. John, did when they responded to two distraught people and helped save them from drowning.  They are truly deserving of the NYS Senate Liberty Medal, the Senate’s highest honor for their selfless acts of heroism. Ava, Meka and Emily are the real superheroes of the 49^thSenate District who truly saved the day for two people in need,” said Senator Tedisco.