It's not often that one phone call can make a difference in someone else's life.

But for Julie Kusowski, a senior in the College of Engineering, one 911 call in Oak Creek, Wis., may have saved a child's life on June 12 of this year.

While driving back to Milwaukee from her brother's graduation in Ohio, Kusowski noticed signs lit up along Interstate 94 near Chicago indicating an Amber Alert. Amber Alerts are activated when a child has been abducted and is believed to be in danger, and this one had been issued for a 6-month-old girl abducted by her father, who was threatening to kill himself and his child.

Memorizing the car's description and license plate number, Kusowski continued driving to campus.

As she approached Rawson Avenue in Oak Creek, she spotted a car matching the description on the signs and pulled over behind it. Once she confirmed the license plate number, she contacted a 911 dispatcher. The suspect was arrested and the child safely returned to her mother.

Thus started a whirlwind series of events. She said she was woken up at 5:45 the morning after by the Oak Creek police chief and met with reporters throughout the day.

"That day between classes I had to meet with a lady from Marquette and she arranged everything," Kusowski said. "There were like four different TV stations, and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel was there, too. It was a lot that day."

Kusowski was thanked again Oct. 18 by Oak Creek at its City Council meeting. She received a $500 check and the city's Citizen's Award — an honor given only on special occasions, according to Mike Gehrke, president of Oak Creek Crime Stoppers.

"The Oak Creek Police Department feels that Ms. Kusowski's awareness, quick thinking, courage and willingness to become involved reflects greatly on her character and should be commended," said Sgt. Steve Anderson as he read from the council's proclamation. "The mayor and common council of the city of Oak Creek hereby congratulate Julie Kusowski for her commitment to the protection of life and civic duty."

Kusowski said the award came as a shock.

"I was really surprised," she said. "I didn't know I would be receiving money. I was really honored. It was good to see that it meant so much to them. It made me feel really good about calling in."

Though friends and family said she has handled the attention well, they took note of her humble personality throughout.

"Julie tends to be sometimes humble and she just thinks a lot of these things are no big deal," her mother, Jan Kusowski, said. "And that's kind of what she thought when she saw that person on the highway. For her, she just looked at it as something that anyone should do."

Jan said Julie has always been known for her kindness and caring. She said Kusowski had donated her spring break this year to travel with a 12-year-old born with cerebral palsy and the child's family.

"She enjoys being with him and just wanted to help out," Jan said.

Tim Castelli, a senior in the College of Communication, said Kosowski's act was consistent with her personality.

"I was pretty amazed that she had remembered the number, but she kind of does things like this," he said.

Julie said she was able to remember the number because of its uniqueness.

"For whatever reason, it kind of stuck with me and I'm pretty good at number kind of stuff, so I have a habit when I see a specific number and if it's unique, it sticks with me," she said. "And that one was such an easy combination of numbers that I was able to remember it when I saw it again."

Her father, John Kusowski, was not surprised that she was able to remember.

"I don't think it's in her character to ignore a situation," he said.

Julie said she wanted her situation to make the public more conscious of the Amber Alert system.

"A lot of people recognized the system and it should make them a little bit more aware when they're driving," she said.

According to Julie's mother, calling in the Amber Alert illustrated her ability to make sound, independent decisions.

"Julie's a real self-confident person," she said. "She knows what she wants and she goes and does it. She doesn't wait for other people.

"I told her, 'you got to be an angel to someone that day and you didn't even know it.' That's something that most people don't get to do in their earthly lives," she said.

This article was published in The Marquette Tribune on October 27, 2005.