Poway High Student's Hearty Project Saves Lives

The words “teenager” and “cardiac arrest” should never be used in the same sentence, but should the unthinkable happen, there’s hope if that teenager goes to school in Poway.

And that’s thanks to 19-year-old Katherine Morris.

For her senior project at , Morris championed the benefits of Automated External Defibrillators (AED) and fundraised to bring the lifesaving device to campus.

With a matching grant program through San Diego Project Heart Beat, she raised enough money for two.

“I raised the money teaching [AED, CPR and first aid] classes, and also doing bake sales,” she said. “Nineteen hundred dollars is a lot to make when you're 18.”

But she didn’t stop there.

Working as a liaison between Project Heart Beat and the nearly 40 schools within PUSD, she mapped out a plan with the various PTAs to bring an AED to every school. With a digital screen and audio step-by-step instruction, Morris says “anyone should be able to use them.”

Morris’ senior project was inspired when she got lifeguard certified in her sophomore year. She's now completing prenursing courses at San Diego State University, staying local because of the connections she's made.

“I've always been interested in the health care profession,” she said. “I've just always wanted to do this.”