At its meeting last night, the State College Borough Council recognized the bravery of Kevin Mahoney (Class of 2005) and Matthew Emmerling (senior-communications), the two men who saved the residents of 700 W. College Ave. from their burning house on April 2.

State College Mayor Bill Welch presented the men with certificates of appreciation for entering the burning house and getting the occupants out safely.

The awards, which were read by Welch, stated that "without hesitation, [the men] entered the burning building to determine if anyone was inside. All occupants were awakened and were able to escape safely. As a result of their quick, decisive and heroic response, eight persons were able to escape the burning house. ... Their actions undoubtedly saved the lives of those persons sleeping inside the house."

In the statement, the mayor personally thanked the two men.

"On behalf of the entire community, State College Borough Council thanks Matthew Emmerling and Kevin Mahoney for this act of bravery and the concern they demonstrated for other persons," Welch said.

Borough Council member Elizabeth Goreham said it is rare for the borough to recognize such efforts because they don't occur very often. Goreham said the last time the council presented citizens with a certificate of appreciation was after the April 24, 2005, house fire at 500 E. Beaver Ave., where Penn State student Chris Raspanti died.

The 2005 fire was discovered early in the morning by two sanitation workers and a taxi driver, who called 911 and alerted the building's residents. The three citizens were each presented an award.

Goreham said she is glad there are conscientious people in State College who are willing to help out during a tragedy.

"We are lucky to live in a town where people care about each other and are happy to intervene," she said. Goreham also said she was upset by all the fires that State College has recently seen and was unsure why they have been so frequent.

Borough Council member Tom Daubert said he thought presenting the two men with certificates of appreciation was a great idea. "It is important to recognize people who do things they don't have to do. They could have turned and walked the other way," Daubert said.

Borough Manager Tom Fountaine said he thought it was very important for the borough to recognize such efforts.

"Were it not for these individuals and their courageous acts, this would have been a tragedy," he said. "They performed a service to the community."

Emmerling said that it was nice to be recognized, and he was glad that everyone who was rescued from the house was doing well.

"I'm glad they are moving on with their lives," Emmerling said.

Mahoney said the recognition from the borough was not necessary, but was nice nonetheless.

"It's always nice to have some recognition," he said.