Iona University Freshman Sofia Wyllie ’28 Saves Motorcyclist, Wins Citizen of the Year Award
New Rochelle, N.Y. – As a motorcyclist lay bleeding on North Avenue, Iona University freshman Sofia Wyllie ’28 sprinted into action. Using her sweatpants as a makeshift tourniquet, police say her heroic actions helped to save the man’s life.
“I just locked in,” recalled Wyllie, a trained lifeguard from Long Island, N.Y. “He was going to bleed out. I had to do something.”
In recognition of her extraordinary response, the New Rochelle Police Department honored Wyllie with its Citizen of the Year Award. An estimated 200 people attended the annual ceremony, held at the Greentree Country Club on May 13, 2025.
Wyllie’s Heroic Actions
On what seemed like an ordinary October day, as Wyllie was on her way to dance class, a motorcyclist was struck by a van and catapulted onto the road, screaming in agony.
It was in that moment that Wyllie’s training and instincts kicked in. Assessing the scene, she stayed calm and knew she had to improvise. The man’s leg was severely injured. She recognized arterial bleeding. This was a critical situation, requiring immediate action.
With shorts underneath, she removed her sweatpants and fashioned them into a tourniquet – twisting the legs as tightly as possible and tying them above the bleeding. She stayed by the man’s side until emergency responders arrived moments later. Next, she consoled the driver of the van, keeping him calm amidst the chaos.
As the ambulance sped off to the hospital, Wyllie prayed on the street. She then calmly stood up, called her dad and walked back across the scene of the accident to attend class.
Despite the outpouring of praise she has received from the community, she humbly downplays her part. Instead, she gives credit to her guiding principle – faith.
“I don’t feel like a hero. I was just an instrument in God’s plan,” she said. “God had me walk into the accident because He knew I could help.”
Called to Make a Difference
Wyllie’s story resonates deeply with Iona’s mission of faith. Founded in 1940 by the Christian Brothers, Iona inspires students to embrace a life of purpose, rooted in community and service to others. Wyllie embodies these values.
Now, as she takes her next steps at Iona – pursing a degree in Health and Wellness and launching her own personal training business – she said her vision is to continue doing God’s work by empowering others to cultivate both physical and mental strength.
“I just want to make a difference,” she said. “No matter if it’s big or small, I try to make a difference every day – whether it’s smiling at a passing stranger or saving someone’s life on the street.”
Watch Now: Sofia Wyllie '28 Featured on News12
ABOUT IONA
Founded in 1940, Iona University is a master's-granting private, Catholic, coeducational institution of learning in the tradition of the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers. Iona's 45-acre New Rochelle campus and 28-acre Bronxville campus are just 20 miles north of Midtown Manhattan. With a total enrollment of nearly 4,000 students and an alumni base of more than 50,000 around the world, Iona is a diverse community of learners and scholars dedicated to academic excellence and the values of justice, peace and service. Iona is highly accredited, offering undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, science and business administration, as well as Master of Arts, Master of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees and numerous advanced certificate programs. Iona students enjoy small class sizes, engaged professors and a wide array of academic programs across the School of Arts & Science; LaPenta School of Business; NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences; and Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Iona also continues to be recognized in prestigious national rankings. Most recently for 2025, Iona has been named one of the nation’s best colleges by The Princeton Review, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes and others. Additionally, U.S. News & World Report recognized Iona as one of top for social mobility in the country, while Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW) ranked an Iona degree in the top 5 percent nationally for long-term return on investment. Iona’s LaPenta School of Business, meanwhile, is also accredited by AACSB International, a recognition awarded to just 6 percent of business schools worldwide. In addition, The Princeton Review recognized Iona’s on-campus MBA program as a “Best Business School for 2024.” Iona also offers a fully online MBA program for even greater flexibility. In July 2021, Iona announced the establishment of the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences, which is now principally located on Iona’s Bronxville campus in collaboration with one of the nation’s top hospitals. Connecting to its Irish heritage, Iona also opened a new campus in County Mayo, Ireland, located on the historic 400-acre Westport House Estate. A school on the rise, Iona officially changed its status from College to University on July 1, 2022, reflecting the growth of its academic programs and the prestige of an Iona education.