Portland metro high schoolers serve as SAR volunteers

PORTLAND, Ore. — When the coronavirus pandemic abruptly ended their senior year, a group of 2020 graduates stayed calm, cool and collected. It's a skill they picked up as volunteers for Multnomah County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue (SAR)

Mika, Ezra, Hannah, Lucy, Coleman and Octavo are seniors at high schools across the Portland metro area.

"This group of, officers is what we call them, have really just been able to overcome all of the punches that have been thrown at them," said Ta Adams Keller, head adviser with MCSO SAR.

One of their greatest achievements remains helping out during the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire in the Gorge.

They handle real-life situations - and still do so on a school night.

"Getting back from a search at like 6 a.m., eating a slow breakfast and grabbing your bag and just going straight to school." Ezra said.

They've learned some important lessons and they'll continue helping people as our future EMTs, paramedics, ski patrollers, mechanical engineers, public servants - and world changers.

"The amount of emotional load that these members go through and have seen in the course of their four years isn't easy, but they've taken it and they've done really well with it. And I know that they're gonna move on to do great things," Keller said.

Don't miss our KATU Virtual Graduation Special on Saturday at 7 p.m.