West Valley graduation held amid a drizzle

Photo by Michael Woodward

Medical Assist: Graduating on Friday, Chris Murrill at far right helps extricate a victim of a head-on collision on Interstate 5 in February 2009.

West Valley High School saw 193 outgoing seniors celebrate the end of their high school curriculum in a light rain on West Valley’s football field June 5. Parents and seniors alike were opening umbrellas to keep the drizzle at bay.

Beginning with valedictorian Michelle Johnson, diplomas were handed out by Anderson Union High School District board members Al Davis and Joe Gibson.

“This was my best year of high school,” said graduate Chris Murrill of Cottonwood. “There was never a dull moment. I was always doing something.”

Murrill, a certified Medical First Responder who has volunteered at the Cottonwood Fire Protection District for the last year, plans to pursue fire fighting as a shoe-in to the medical profession.

“My goal is to be a flight trauma nurse,” Murrill said, adding that he was always interested in the medical field.

His skills were put to use last month when a fight broke out on the school campus, and one of the students fell back, striking his head on concrete steps.

“Chris was able to be a first responder and apply some very appropriate first aid,” West Valley High School Principal Karl Stemler said.

“He had a small gash in the back of his head and was bleeding pretty profusely,” Murrill said. “I applied pressure to stop the bleeding and immobilized him. He appeared to have broken his collarbone.”

"He's always willing to help," added Cottonwood firefighter and administrator Rodney Chadbon of Murrill. "It's really nice to see people like that."

Murrill had applied to join the Navy but was denied as his legs aren’t of the same length, a condition left over from being born with a club foot, he explained.

Despite that rejection, Murrill looks forward to his goals in the medical field.

“I love helping people when they really need it,” he said. “To be able to help someone in their biggest time of need is the greatest feeling.”