EDUCATION
A8 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
Hermiston teen on
the road to recovery
By TAMMY MALGESINI
FOR THE HERMISTON HERALD
Zeddrik Cota is riding
high a little more than two
years after a debilitating
bicycle accident that resulted
in severe head injuries.
“Before the accident he
was always struggling in
school,” said Oscar Cota,
the 14-year-old’s father. “He
was presented with an award
in recognition of his leader-
ship in class.”
The proud papa went on
to say his son is now carry-
ing a 3.79 GPA. The award,
he said, was awarded by
Hermiston High School for
his son’s learning efforts,
leadership skills and going
above and beyond in the dis-
trict’s distance learning pro-
gram. He was nominated
for the award anonymously,
which was presented Oct. 23
by School Resource Offi cer
Derrick Williams.
“I feel happy and proud
of myself knowing that I’m
doing good. I’m doing bet-
ter,” Zeddrik said.
He calls distance learn-
ing “different,” but believes
it has been a contributing
factor to doing better in
school. His father agrees,
saying he and Zeddrik’s
mother, Alainna Abbott,
have discussed having their
son continue with online
school even after COVID-
19 restrictions are lifted.
After the June 14, 2018,
bicycle accident, which
occurred at the Hermiston
Campus Life skate park,
Zeddrik was transferred
via medical helicopter to
Legacy Emanuel Medical
Center in Portland. A med-
ically-induced coma and a
long road to recovery fol-
lowed. Oscar said his son’s
physician at Randall Chil-
dren’s Hospital at Legacy
Emanuel, is pleased with
his patient’s progress.
Oscar said Zeddrik still
requires extensive dental
work. In addition, he said
Oscar Cota/Contributed Photo
Zeddrik Cota shows off a fi sh
he caught recently.
his son still experiences
some issues with his mem-
ory and staying focused.
Zeddrik, who recalls lit-
tle from the accident, said
he remembers waking up
in the hospital in Portland
with his parents staring at
him. One thing he appre-
ciates is that his brother
called for paramedics
and the expertise of fi rst
responders.
In addition, Zeddrik is
grateful for the outpouring
of support from the commu-
nity. He received numerous
posters and boxes of cards
wishing him well.
While the accident has
restricted Zeddrik’s activi-
ties to noncontact sports, he
has been enjoying partici-
pating on the high school’s
trap shooting team. In addi-
tion, he likes spending time
with his family and dogs, as
well as fi shing and hunting,
including for ducks and
shed. Several months after
the accident, Zeddrik got
the go-ahead by his doc-
tor to go hunting. He was
the only one in the family
that had pulled an elk tag
that year. He was success-
ful, bagging a 6-point bull.
Also, Zeddrik has got-
ten back into the saddle —
riding his bike. He stressed
the importance of donning a
helmet while riding a bike.
“I don’t like to wear it,
but I’m glad I did,” he said.
“I wish more kids would
wear them.”
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2020
Awards link offi cers, students
By JADE MCDOWELL
NEWS EDITOR
If a police offi cer comes knock-
ing at a Hermiston School District
student’s door, it doesn’t necessar-
ily mean they’re in trouble.
The district’s three school
resource offi cers have been visiting
select students each Friday to hand
out awards voted on by the stu-
dents’ teachers. The awards can be
for good behavior, improved atten-
dance or other categories where
teachers feel a student deserves rec-
ognition. The award comes with a
gift card and certifi cate.
Offi cer Betty Nava, who cur-
rently covers the district’s two mid-
dle schools and has been a school
resource offi cer since 2016, said
delivering awards to students at
home has been a nice way to recon-
nect with them after months of dis-
tance learning.
“I get to see a lot of kids that I
got to know other years and haven’t
seen for a while,” she said.
She said the kids “light up” when
they fi nd out they got an award, and
parents often show excitement and
pride as well.
In normal years, school resource
offi cers spend time each day at the
schools. While their presence pro-
vides a measure of security for the
schools, the idea is also for offi -
cers to build credibility and pos-
itive relationships with students.
That mission has been hard to fulfi ll
this year when students are learning
online.
Oscar Cota/Contributed Photo
Zeddrik Cota, left, receives one of
Hermiston High School’s awards from
Offi cer Derrick Williams, right.
Offi cer Derrick Williams was
assigned to be a school resource
offi cer for Hermiston High School
in the spring, but since then SROs
have mostly been on regular patrol
duties since they can’t spend time
with students in schools. Williams
said since the awards started up, it
has been fun going out each Friday
to hand out the 16 awards for the
week.
“It’s defi nitely a good way to
utilize what time we do have with
the kids when they’re not in the
schools,” he said.
They usually call ahead to say
they’re coming, he said, but some-
times the parents don’t tell the stu-
dent and he gets to surprise them.
Some students’ fi rst reaction to an
offi cer showing up to their house
is worry that they’re in trouble for
something.
Offi cer Juan Balli, who cov-
ers the elementary schools, also
said students’ fi rst reaction at see-
ing a police offi cer at the door can
be fear, but it turns into excite-
ment when they realize they won an
award.
“Elementary kids are bright-
eyed: ‘Oh I got one!’” he said.
Dan Greenough, principal at
Desert View Elementary School,
said his school does three awards
per week, alternating between one
kindergartener, fi rst-grader and sec-
ond-grader one week and a third-,
fourth- and fi fth-grader the next.
“Teachers work as a grade-level
team and talk about the kids and
who’s really showing that grit and
perseverance through comprehen-
sive distance learning, and choose
one student,” he said.
He said teachers have had a hard
time not being able to be face-to-
face with their students, so they
have enjoyed being able to select
students for the awards.
“It’s been fun,” he said. “Its a
great way to recognize the kids.”
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HOW WE RECOVER
We can only defeat COVID-19 by working together, protecting
our families’ health, and looking out for our community.
We’re on the right path, but we still have work to do.
1
Reduce your risk of contracting coronavirus by practicing good health
habits. Wash your hands regularly, maintain 6 feet of physical distance
from others, and keep indoor gatherings to 10 people or fewer.
2
Stop the spread of coronavirus by staying home if you’re sick and
wearing a mask when in public. Local contact tracers will call to offer
guidance and information if you or someone close to you tests positive
for COVID-19. These professionals will also provide information for your
safety and recovery.
3
Eradicate COVID-19 from Umatilla County by staying vigilant to avoid
a winter resurgence. This is how we will return students to the classroom
and fully reopen businesses as soon as safely possible.