THE accolades keep rolling in for the BB Coke High School students who went to the aid of their schoolmate, 14-year-old Jaheim Colman, in September after he was beaten unconscious by a grade 11 student.

On Thursday, December 7, 2023, the group of boys, along with Jaheim, were among 13 high school students and 16 adults honoured during the inaugural staging of the Children’s Advocate’s Recognition Awards at Jamaica Pegasus hotel in St Andrew.

The boys came to national attention after lifting Jaheim, following the assault, and carrying him through the busy town of Junction in St Elizabeth to a doctor’s office for treatment 530 metres from the school.

They received commendations from Prime Minister Andrew Holness who presented them with citations and hailed them for rescuing Jaheim.

Telecoms giant Digicel then committed to providing tuition assistance to support the boys in managing their academic expenses. Additionally, the young heroes were presented with Samsung tablets, Youth Plan SIM cards with one year of free data and calls, bookstore vouchers, phone credit, and cricket memorabilia bearing the signatures of West Indies greats.

Also, in October, St Elizabeth Municipal Corporation awarded the boys with the Medal of Bravery at Independence Park in Black River.

On Thursday the boys told the Jamaica Observer that since the incident they have become inseparable.

Jaheim urged students on the wrong side of the tracks to mend their ways.

“To di whole a di bad man dem out deh now, easy yuhself, work and believe,” the diminutive Jaheim said, cheered on by his friends who proudly shared that they were prefects, monitors, form captains, school ambassadors, student athletes, and football players.

Jaheim, who shared that he has tried not to recall the events of the day he was assaulted, said he is now back in school and focused on his lessons.

His friends, who told the Observer that the day will not be one they will forget anytime soon, said they hope to never see a repeat.