When a community member collapsed and needed immediate help, Paetow High School senior Olivia Hanawalt pushed past a crowd of bystanders, took control of the scene and provided critical aid until first responders from Harris County ESD 48 arrived.

Hanawalt is a student in Katy ISD's Emergency Medical Technician program at Miller Career & Technology Center, where juniors and seniors train in CPR, trauma care, airway management and patient assessment. The agency later honored her with a special coin presentation in front of her MCTC classmates.

"I have an obligation to help because I am equipped to help in that situation," Hanawalt told Katy Magazine in March. "Because I am a student in this program, I knew the protocols and what to do."

The district spotlighted the EMT program on its official X account on Monday, Aug. 17, as Katy ISD entered its second week of classes. MCTC, at 1734 Katyland Dr., offers the EMT-Basic pathway as part of its Public Services endorsement, one of more than 20 career tracks available to upperclassmen across the district.

Students attend MCTC for half the school day, then return to their home campus for remaining classes. The program includes coursework on caring for and transporting the sick and injured, along with ride-alongs with local emergency services.

Her teacher, Lara Ondruch, said Hanawalt brings both compassion and confidence to everything she does.

The training has real stakes. MCTC's EMT students can earn certification while still in high school, building a pipeline of locally trained first responders from Katy ISD classrooms. The Career and Technical Association of Texas has named the district a CTE District of Distinction for its programming.

Enrollment for the 2026-2027 school year is closed. Families can reach MCTC at (281) 237-6300 for program information.