Third grader David Diaz Jr. of Woodrow Wilson Elementary School was surprised on Wednesday afternoon with the Kids Wish Network Hero of the Year Award. 

The award comes from Diaz's efforts in performing the Heimlich maneuver on a fellow classmate while they were choking on a slice of pizza during lunch late in the 2021-22 school year. 

The award also came with a 5,000 dollar check for Diaz's life saving actions that he says were learned through a television show. 

Diaz says how practice and memory were important in being able to do such tasks at a very young age.

"Kids watching this, you can do amazing stuff just like me if you learn, practice, and remember it," said Diaz. 

Kids Wish Network Programs Assistant Tambra Fulk says how ever since meeting Diaz originally, she was looking forward to the day that she would be able to give him this award.

"I was so excited to come up here and do this from the moment I met him and heard his story. I interviewed him on video, so I just I couldn't wait to do this for him.

Diaz already was recognized by the network back in June of 2022 where he was recognized for Hero of the Month for the very same event.