Answering the bell: Anna Maria College, NFL team, honor students for lifesaving actions
PAXTON — Running into a burning building would be a harrowing thing for most people, but for a group of Anna Maria College students who were visiting Philadelphia in February, there was no hesitation.
Their actions could have meant life or death for the family inside.
On Thursday, the college recognized Elijah Rapaport, Jarret “Eggo” Niland, Joshua Alexander and Cameron Powell for their heroic actions that February weekend, which may have saved the lives of an entire family. Rapaport, Alexander and Powell all play on the college's men's club hockey team, while Niland videotapes the team's games.
“It's still kind of surreal. We still haven't fully addressed it at all,” said Rapaport, a sophomore from Orlando, Florida. “We mostly care about the fact that we helped save that family. That's really what we think back on when we think about it.”
In February, the group of four traveled to Philadelphia to cheer on the Eagles at a Super Bowl party hosted by a friend of Rapoport's.
After the party, the friend left to walk another person home. When he returned, he ran inside, calling on the others to come outside "now."
Alexander, a sophomore from Oklahoma City, said they didn’t know why he was calling, so they came out not knowing what to expect.
“He sounded so urgent, we all went out thinking there was like a fight or something … we were ready to back our buddy up,” Alexander said. “Then we rushed out and saw the fire.”
Without hesitation, the group ran into the home and started knocking on doors to wake the family and get them out.
The family was able to get out quickly, but in their rush, they weren’t able to get properly dressed for the cold weather. So the students offered their jackets and shoes while they waited for emergency services, said Niland, who is from Ashaway, Rhode Island.
Afterward, he said, they got together with the family and formed a circle to pray.
While the group hasn’t had contact with the family since, they are hoping to get in touch with them soon since they live close right across the street from Rapaport's friend. Powell, a senior from Grafton, said that they would like to give them well wishes.
Eagles honor Anna Maria students
The group of friends not only received a certificate from the college but also a surprise from the Philadelphia Eagles.
Hugh Drummond, who is in charge of communications for the college, reached out to the NFL team to describe the actions of the four students. The team surprised them with a letter, hats and a fan towel.
In the letter, the Eagles said the students had demonstrated the meaning of "brotherly love," the phrase associated with Philadelphia.
Powell said the Eagles reaching out and giving them gifts was “mind-blowing.”
Coach praises team members
For Paul Martone, the coach of the club hockey team, the actions of the four students “wasn’t surprising.”
“That's one of the things we look for in our kids, making sure they’re good people first, and that's the definition of these kids,” Martone said. “I can't speak highly enough of their character. I really can't. I know everybody says it, but they're good kids.”
“There are people who serve in the Fire Department for 30 or 40 years, who have never done anything like these kids did,” said Thomas Bogart, a former Lynnfield fire chief who is a professor of fire science at Anna Maria. “It is really remarkable.”
President Mary Lou Retelle said the school has a saying: “When the bell rings, answer the call.”
“They answered the bell,” she said. “We're very proud.”
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Philadelphia Eagles honor Anna Maria students for lifesaving actions
