Student recognized for saving classmate’s life

BELLEVILLE — A Belleville Henderson Central School student was recognized recently for assisting a choking classmate.

Schuyler A. Dillon, a senior from Ellisburg, assisted his friend Matthew J. Glowfeskie, an 11th-grader from Henderson, who was eating a bagel with cream cheese in the school’s cafeteria on the morning of Sept. 29. When Mr. Glowfeskie stood up to recite the Pledge of Allegiance, a piece of bagel lodged in his throat, choking him.

“I panicked,” Mr. Glowfeskie said. “I didn’t know what was going on.”

Mr. Dillon was standing behind him. When he saw Mr. Glowfeskie was coughing and leaning forward during the pledge, he noticed Mr. Glowfeskie signaling that he was choking.

“It was a slight adrenaline rush when I realized what I had to do,” Mr. Dillon said.

Performing the Heimlich maneuver, which he learned in the school’s health class, Mr. Dillon’s first two attempts were unsuccessful.

“Initially I was thinking, you’re not going to let him choke,” Mr. Dillon said.

Trying again, the bagel was dislodged on his fourth attempt.

“Orange juice and bagel were everywhere,” Mr. Dillon said.

Mr. Glowfeskie would be fine, with teachers taking him to the school nurse’s office.

“I was laughing about it right afterwards,” Mr. Glowfeskie said.

He said he was glad Mr. Dillon stepped in, as others sitting near him weren’t sure what was happening.

“Other people thought I may be kidding,” Mr. Glowfeskie said. “He took it seriously.”

For his actions, Mr. Dillon was named the winner of the Sunshine Dental Good Deeds Contest put on by Sunshine Dental, Watertown. In addition to being recognized at the Belleville Henderson Central School District Board of Education meeting, he was also given a new laptop computer, printer and camera.

The contest’s second prize went to Haley Heath from Alexandria Central, who was recognized for being welcoming to new students at the school. The contest’s third prize went to Nicholas Snyder from Harold T. Wiley Intermediate School, who assisted his grandmother during a medical emergency.

“These kids do amazing things,” said Dr. Aeklavya Panjali, owner and operator of Sunshine Dental. “I can’t remember doing these things myself when I was their age.”

Dr. Panjali said the contest was a good way to encourage students to do the right thing.

“It’s not just an example for other kids,” Dr. Panjali said. “It’s something we should all be supporting.”

Principal Scott A. Storey said the award reinforced what the school tried to teach.

“You try to teach good morals, like helping each other out when there’s a need,” Mr. Storey said.

Mr. Dillon, who said he’s thinking about studying at either SUNY Cortland or Genesee Community College after graduation, advised people in similar situations to remain calm.

“You’ve got to keep your head clear,” Mr. Dillon said. “You just have to remember the basics.”