Modesto Irrigation District Lineworkers and Umatilla Electric Co-op Employee Receive NWPPA’s 2026 Safety Heroism Award
(April 21) On April 16, Northwest Public Power Association presented the 2026 Safety Heroism Award to Modesto Irrigation District Lineworkers Brian Szuggar and Jimmy Boere and to Umatilla Electric Cooperative Executive Assistant Kim Rill at the association’s Engineering & Operations Conference in Portland, Oregon.
NWPPA’s Safety Heroism Award recognizes a person or team that provided unselfish and voluntary assistance in a situation where life, significant injury, or significant property loss would have been incurred were it not for their efforts.
Szuggar and Boere received the award for the lifesaving actions they took last October. They were performing scheduled outage work at Great Valley Academy in Modesto, California, when the school janitor alerted them to an emergency. Just down the road in a canal, a truck was partially submerged in four feet of water with an elderly man trapped inside. Arriving at the scene, Szuggar and Boere climbed into the bed of the truck. They worked together to free the man and pull him to safety, preventing what could have been a tragic event. Their swift actions, bravery, and selflessness exemplify the highest standards of public service and community care.
Rill received the award for the actions she took last January. She was driving through Echo, Oregon, when she noticed heavy smoke coming from the roof of a neighboring residence. She decided to stop and investigate. She approached the home, knocked on the door, and spoke with the homeowners. She learned they were unaware their house was on fire. Smoke was already building inside the structure, creating a dangerous situation that could have quickly escalated. Rill ensured the residents understood the severity of the situation and encouraged them to leave the home immediately. Because of Rill’s quick thinking and calm response, the homeowners safely evacuated and contacted local emergency responders. Fire crews arrived and worked to contain and extinguish the fire as quickly as possible. Rill’s willingness to act, even while off duty and without expectation of recognition, demonstrates exceptional awareness, courage, and commitment to public safety.
About NWPPA: NWPPA is a not-for-profit regional association representing and serving more than 150 customer-owned, locally controlled utilities in the Western U.S. and Canada. The association also serves over 400 associate members across the U.S. and Canada that are allied with the electric utility industry. For more information, visit www.nwppa.org or follow @NWPPAssoc on our social channels.
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