Geggie Student Deemed Hero By Rockwood District Bus Drivers Regarding His Actions In Fatal Accident

'Pain:  Never heard of it!' Ironically, the wearer of a T-shirt with this message on it—Andrew Schnurbusch—turned out to have a very befitting saying for the special moment that occurred at this afternoon's fifth grade awards assembly at Geggie Elementary in Eureka. He was the fifth grader who remained exceedingly calm after a Nov. 18, 2010, head-on collision between the route school bus he was on and a sport utility vehicle, while helping the driver and other students get reoriented and eventually off the bus.

Schnurbusch heard of pain alright, as it played out around him during that November morning, but he didn't let it get to him until everyone was safe, including a very injured bus driver Mary Margaret Fortner. He himself had a bloody nose that morning, but it never phased him.

First Student bus drivers wanted to recognize the quick and brave actions of Schnurbusch, so they surprised him with a plaque and an envelope at the awards assembly. Little did he know (because there was no reason to open the envelope), it contained five, $100 bills!

Schnurbusch's T-shirt seemed to quietly underline the can-do attitude of this young, but wise, man.

"He's my hero, that's all there is to it," said Fortner. "There's not a day that goes by that I don't think of him as that."

Fortner said when she was trapped inside the seat of the bus due to the accident, Schnurbusch immediately came to her and asked what he could do. "My mirror was gone and I was upset because I couldn't see the kids behind me. I thought my leg and arm were broken. Flames were in my front window," she said.

"When I told Andy to check on the kids, he went to the back of me and asked each one how they were. He called out their names to me, one by one, saying Miss Mary, so-and-so is OK," she said.

"He helped them all get off the bus, and was the one who unbuckled me. That's pretty amazing for a 10 year old."

Fortner said the day after the accident, Schnurbusch brought her a teddy bear. "He also eventually brought me a dream catcher because he knew I was having bad dreams,"she said. "He's just a special kid."

Fortner's bus route was taken over by her sister, Karen. Fortner, who since the accident has been on a leave of absence, hopes to continue to recuperate this summer. She still has nerve damage in her neck.

Representing the bus drivers was Jane McKenna, head of the First Student safety training department, who said Schnurbusch was the perfect example of what bus drivers hope all students can be when danger is present. "He obviously listened during our evacuation drills, because he knew what to do," she told the 100-plus other fifth graders at the assembly.

"We wanted to do something to really thank Andy because he saved the day," said McKenna.

His mother, Michelle Schnurbusch, said she is still very proud of him. Being the youngest of five brothers, she said he had seen great leadership in them. "I'm so glad he stood up that day and helped," she said.

"But Mary Margaret was the true hero that morning because she kept the kids from getting too hurt."

, 20, died at the scene of the 8:15 a.m. on Highway FF in Jefferson County, just outside of Eureka that morning.  She was a 2009 graduate of .