Students and faculty at Zanesville High School burst into applause as two sophomore students were honored with Life Savings Awards Friday during a school pep rally.

Nathan Smith and Ryan Murphy were honored by Zanesville Mayor Don Mason and Police Chief Tony Coury during the pep rally Friday afternoon for their quick action and willingness to help another young person that was in need.

On Jan. 28, in the area of Maysville Pike and Eppley Avenue, the boys were able to alert first responders to a person that was unresponsive inside of a vehicle.

According to 16 year-old Smith, he was walking to 17 year-old Murphy’s house when he noticed a person in the driver seat of a vehicle passed out. Smith called the police and ran to get Murphy, whose grandfather also assisted. The boys “told people what to do” until first responders arrived on the scene.

The chief of police, as well as the mayor, were made aware of the situation after Zanesville High School resource officer Tom Launderman brought the situation to Coury’s attention.

“I think without these guys’ involvement or [willingness] to get involved, the guy would have died that day,” Coury said.

Both boys said the person involved looked young and was in need of assistance.

“I’m glad to see there are young youth of Zanesville that are willing to get involved,” Coury said while presenting the students with their awards.

He added that the boys’ willingness to help a stranger who was overdosing likely saved the person’s life.

“Their actions on that day lead to this individual being able to live another day,” Coury said.

The boys credit their knowledge of how to handle the situation to Zanesville High School as Murphy said they learned how to respond to similar situations in health class.

“It all happened so fast,” Murphy said.

Smith echoed Murphy’s comment stating that it was the first time he had ever seen anything like that happen to someone.

“It sets a good example,” Murphy said of the duo’s actions. “So they (other students) know like that life can end at any time, at any point and that they need to life it to the fullest.”

Coury said this was his first time presenting a life saving award to a civilian not involved with law enforcement.