Four Naples High school students were honored Wednesday for helping fellow students evacuate after a bomb threat in March.
It was around 9 a.m. on March 2 when a threat was called in to Naples High School, claiming that three bombs would go off in one hour. Police declared a Code Red, and students were evacuated.
"Everybody started scrambling out of the classroom, and I was about to do the same," said sophomore Cesare Mellusi. "But I looked back, and I saw one of my peers and she hadn't moved. So I had to help her, of course."
That student had just had surgery and was on crutches. Three other students helped out, getting her and another classmate in a wheelchair to safety.
For their actions, the four young men were honored Wednesday with "Do The Right Thing" awards by Naples Police at City Hall.
"It was a very proud moment," said Stanley Bryant, assistant principal at Naples High. "We talk about raising productive citizens who are responsible, who are selfless. Those students portrayed those attributes on that day."
The boys' mothers also received flowers at the brief award ceremony, in appreciation for raising their sons right.
"As a parent, you sometimes have your doubts if you're doing the right thing raising them," said Cesare's mother Thyrza Mathis. "But today I've seen that is happening."
The other three students who were awarded for going above and beyond are Kale Shust, Samuel Faustin and Woody Theork.
"They're really humble guys, so they don't like the spotlight too much," said Bryant. "They were kind of surprised, but they deserve it."
"I think anybody that has a kind heart and has a good humble family would do the same thing," Cesare said.
The bomb threat that caused the evacuation turned out to be a fake. The next day, Grayson Barry, 18, was arrested and charged with making the threat.
