Bethel University senior Matt Miller is one of three people to be awarded the “most prestigious civilian award in America” for his efforts to help rescue at least eight people during the 35W bridge collapse on August 1, the Star Tribune announced today.

The “Above & Beyond Citizen Honor,” awarded by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, will be presented to Miller and two others at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery on Tuesday, March 25. The ceremony will be hosted by Powell and “NBC Nightly News” anchor Brian Williams. The three winners’ stories will be featured on Wednesday’s “NBC Today Show” and at www.aboveandbeyond365.com. In addition, Miller has been chosen to throw out the first pitch at the Minnesota Twins’ home opener March 31.

Miller was doing summer construction work for Progressive Contractors, Inc. (PCI), the company resurfacing the bridge when it went down. He risked his own life to help eight injured people from underneath a buckled span of highway that collapsed after the rescues. The award is the first national recognition for any bridge rescuer.

Officials at Bethel University chose to nominate Miller for the Above & Beyond award after Tom Sloan, a vice president at Progressive Contractors, stopped in Bethel’s Office of Communications and Marketing to tell them of his efforts.

Miller sought no recognition for his efforts. “He’s a very quiet, unassuming person,” says Vice President for Communications and Marketing Sherie Lindvall. “I’m not really a big hero. I don’t need to have that label,” Miller told the Minneapolis Star Tribune in a recent interview.

“I want to give the glory to God because He gave me the strength to go down there and just help these people,” says Matt, the son of Bethel alumnus Greg Miller ’73 and his wife Sharon of New Brighton. Matt’s siblings Josh ’05, Charity ’00, Rebecca ’03, and Nate ’05 also attended Bethel.

Click here to view a recent Fox9 TV interview with Miller.