John Knoelke, vice president of Cook-Illinois Corporation, presents Krystle Cushing a certificate of recognition as she holds her two-year-old daughter, Kayli.

Cushing and bus driver Alex Maliwanag had just finished dropping off the last of the afternoon’s load of students in a trailer park when they saw a boy weaving his Big Wheel through the narrow road that led out onto the highway. At first, Maliwanag said he took his time, inching along 50 feet behind the boy, hoping the bus would prevent anyone from passing while the boy found his way off the road. But he didn’t. Despite the driver's blasts of the horn, the boy continued to barrel towards the stop sign that led onto the 45-mph stretch of roadway.

Maliwanag quickly stopped the bus and Cushing shot out the doorway grabbing the boy just as semi-trailer and a taxi skidded to a stop just feet away. While the boy could not speak English and explain where he lived, Cushing stayed with him long enough for police and his family to arrive.

Recently, John Knoelke, vice president of RichLee Vans' and Cook County School Bus’ parent company Cook-Illinois Corporation, presented Cushing with a certificate of recognition and a $100 Visa gift card. While Cushing appreciated the recognition and the cake that was served, she was quick to recognize her driver for his role in saving the boy's life. Both said they were just doing their job.