Editor's Note: The following article features Brian von Suskill (2027) and Alex McManus (2026) from Iota Xi/Georgia College. It was published on The Southern and written by Caroline Bryant, Editor-in-Chief.

After Saving a Life, Iota Xi Brothers Receive Commendation for Their Helping Hands

On April 8, 2024, junior Alex McManus and sophomore Brian von Suskil planned on driving to Starbucks early in the morning to grab breakfast while they applied for classes. Thinking the coffee house would be crowded, they decided to go to McDonalds instead.

This change would alter 71-year-old Terry Dennis’ life forever.

“Two older guys that came in, which ended up being Terry and then his friend Fred,” McManus said. “They had sat behind us and I didn’t think anything of it. And then I just, like, my back faced them and I heard something smack the ground. I turned around and then Terry had fallen out like, coffee everywhere, he just fell out of his chair. He was lying on the ground.”

With direction from Fred, McManus called 911, relaying Dennis’s condition to the emergency dispatcher. Von Suskil, returning from the restroom, saw Dennis on the ground. McManus pointed to Dennis, gesturing for von Suskil’s help. Von Suskil took Dennis’ pulse and checked if he was breathing or responsive.

Read the full story here.