Mia Wojciechowski collected a medal and a standing ovation at Wednesday night's Sachem Board of Education meeting.
The 7-year-old is credited with saving her family, which includes East football coach and North dean Mark Wojciechowski, when their Farmingville home went up in last month.
State Sen. John Flanagan, R-East Northport, presented Mia with a Senate Liberty Medal at the meeting held in the board annex at Samoset Middle School.
"This is an award that we present to individuals who provide outstanding achievement," said Flanagan, of the Liberty Medal, the Senate's highest award for recognizing distinguished citizens.
"At the early age of 7, you did probably one of the coolest things that anyone could ever do and that's to help save other people," Flanagan told Mia.
The Wojciechowskis home was destroyed in the overnight fire on April 18, but Mia's quick actions--running into her parents room and alerting them to the fire--helped all five people inside escape unharmed.
"Thank you and God bless," Mark Wojciechowski said after his daughter turned a bit quiet after being presented with the medal.
She certainly raised her voice, though, when it counted on April 18. A 7-year-old hero that Sachem is proud to call its own.
In other school board news:
- Board president Rob Scavo spoke about speculation that the board is looking to cut music programs even if the current budget passes on May 15. "I want to say, for the record, that's complete rumor. We are looking to roll everything over."
