The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office honored 27 residents Thursday with its annual awards for exceptional community work and lifesaving acts.

"These are ordinary citizens who have done the extraordinary," Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek said in a statement. "Many who are being honored tonight have performed lifesaving acts, some even put their own lives at risk. Their actions give us reason to celebrate tonight."

Recipients included Geoff Racette, a 21-year-old from Plymouth who spotted an SUV in a pond last January and found driver Nancy Breberg, who had been trapped for 18 hours. He gave her food, called 911 and remained with her until police arrived.

Another recipient, Mike Bloom, of Minnetonka Beach, saw a young boy fall through ice on Lake Minnetonka from his home nearby and used a rope to rescue him.

"It was quite scary; he was pretty hypothermic," he said, adding that he was embarrassed by the attention Thursday. "I'm just glad to know the kid's fine and there's a happy ending."

KELLY SMITH