Five East Hall High School students were honored at Monday evening's Hall County Board of Education meeting for their heroic actions when a crossing guard was struck by a vehicle in November 2021.
Caleb Frazier, Drew Doker, Danny Smith, Annie Fair and Ethan Elder all took control of the situation after Lester Harris, 70, of Gainesville was struck by a car driven by Leroy Trendale Macon, 20, of Gainesville the morning of Nov. 19, 2021.
Stan Lewis, director of community relations with Hall County Schools, said at the board meeting that Frazier administered CPR to Harris until help arrived. Doker, Smith and Fair all helped conduct traffic following the incident. Doker also stopped the car driven by Macon. Elder ran about a quarter of a mile from the accident to alert EHHS School Resource Officer Chris Alford about the situation.
Hall County Schools Superintendent Will Schofield said the actions of the students are proof that young people are the nation's next leaders.
"If you're listening to talk radio or reading too much media that's saying this generation isn't ready to take over and lead, turn that crap off," Schofield said.
Heather Blaker, a teacher at Chestatee Academy, was also honored at the board meeting for saving a student's life in a separate incident in November 2021.
Lewis said Blaker was in the cafeteria at Chestatee Academy when she noticed a student choking. Blaker performed the Heimlich maneuver on the student and was able to clear the student's airway within 52 seconds.
"Heather is an outstanding educator, and she serves our community so well ... this is just another example of that," Jennifer Kogod, principal of Chestatee Academy said.
