The Arlington Fire Department would like to recognize Arlington High School senior Hannah Farris as an outstanding community member of The American Dream City.
Hannah is co-chair on the FEMA Region VI Youth Preparedness Council, a mentor on the Texas Youth Preparedness Council and a member of the National Youth Preparedness Council, where she is working on a program called S.T.E.P." (Students Tools for Emergency Planning).
Hannah, 19, put all of her preparedness training to work in her school. As a Junior ROTC member at Arlington High, Hannah created a survey designed to help her fellow classmates find out if they knew the correct way to respond to a school lockdown. She also worked with one of her high school teachers to start a service-based club called ServicingASmile." Hannah and club members did activities such as playing bingo with residents at an assisted living home and bringing Valentine's Day gifts to patients at a nursing and rehabilitation center and a hospital.
Classmates say Hannah, who has faced and overcome many health challenges throughout her life, continues to be an inspiration to all the people she encounters. The Arlington Fire Department first met Hannah in 2014, when she was selected to become the first recipient of the Arlington Fire Charitable Group's Random Acts of Kindness initiative. Hannah received financial assistance along with a surgical procedure that was provided at no cost by a local dentist.
Random Acts of Kindness changed my life and I know it's changed many others by giving hope and giving opportunities to make dreams come true," Hannah said. Random Acts of Kindness opened my eyes to know that there are kindhearted people in the world. I hope to give like I've been given."
One of the ways Hannah hopes to give back is to become a nurse and help others in need. She plans to attend the University of Texas at Arlington this fall.
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