Brighten Your Day

Ellen Degeneres surprises high school hero with huge rewards

October 5, 2012

If you don't watch the Ellen show, you should. Not only is it entertaining, but she always keeps it upbeat and positive. One of the best things she does is frequently reward local hometown heroes for their acts of courage.

This week she invited Marcos Ugarte, a high school student and football player who saved the life of an 8 year-old boy trapped inside a burning house.

Marcos was on the way home from football practice when he noticed his neighbor's house had a mysterious bright glow. As he got closer, he realized that glow was actually fire.

He ran to the house with his father and saw the mother standing outside and the father coming down the steps, coughing and covered in soot.  The father of 8 year-old Cody, pointed upstairs and said, "Son."

Marcus ran upstairs into a smoke filled, burning house to try and get Cody out. He had locked himself in the room and the door was not budging.

Thinking on his toes, Marcus ran downstairs, grabbed a ladder and set it up outside to Cody's bedroom window. He climbed up and escorted Cody down the ladder to safety.

Ellen found about his courageous act and brought him on to her show. Before he arrived, she found out his favorite college football team is the Orgeon Ducks. After he told his story on the show, she surprised him with 2 VIP tickets to an Oregon Ducks college football game as well as a check for $10,000 he can save as part of his college fund.

Watch the video below.