RKYHS students gathered for their first SEED (Student Enrichment, Education, and Development) speaker program of the year. Each week for SEED students hear from a speaker on a wide range of topics, broadening their horizons and offering perspectives on an array of topics. For their first speaker this year they heard from Shawn Sima, founder of the Who We Play For Foundation. October is Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) Awareness Month and Sima shared the harrowing and personal story of his daughter’s near death experience after going into Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). SCA is the leading cause of death on high school campuses, and a standard physical only detects 4% of underlying heart conditions. As a result of his experience, Sima founded Who We Play For and inspired students with his determination to pass state and national laws for screenings for students, especially student athletes.

RKYHS partnered with Who We Play For to provide students the opportunity to get their heart checked with an electrocardiogram (ECG) on campus. In the two days after hearing from Sima, a steady stream of students all day long had the opportunity to take the important step of getting an ECG. Who We Play For also held CPR training for students in the days that followed as well. RKYHS gives special thanks to alum Nathan Orbach (JKHA ‘16/RKYHS ‘20) for helping to coordinate with Who We Play For and its founders for their impactful visit to RKYHS.