The Marquette Police Department recognized NMU students Maria Kiilunen and Darrin Koivisto for their life-saving efforts after a man fell through the ice near the Lower Harbor Ore Dock.

The incident happened on the evening of Jan. 20 The students heard a man yelling for help, called 911 and ran to the man, who was struggling and unable to get out on hiw own. They located a life-saving ring on the pier and used it to pull the man to safety. Kiilunen and Koivisto stayed with him until rescue units arrived.

"Darrin and Maria's quick action and heroic response prevented a tragic outcome that evening," stated the MPD on its Facebook post. Sgt. Ryan Grim presented each student with a Certificate of Appreciation for their life-saving efforts from the City of Marquette.

Kiilunen is a sophomore clinical health sciences/surgical technology major and varsity soccer player from Brighton. Koivisto is a freshman mechanical engineering major from Cokato, Minn.