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There are two shiny, red pins on sophomore Zella Handzel’s red shirt as she’s sitting in her first hour chemistry class.  One’s a red dress that reminds her of her nomination as a Kansas Teen of Impact. The other’s a red ribbon for her “hero.” For her father. For Chris.  He was a volleyball fan, food connoisseur and college athlete. He worked diligently for his “second family” — the Howard Needles Tammen and Bergendoff architecture firm. Chris didn’t seek attention; he sought to lift others up, according to Zella.   Chris collapsed at Zella’s older sister, Emaline’s, volleyball tournament, from a cardiac arrest resulting from atrial fibrillation. His family had a history of heart conditions, and Chris had the recessive trait. Days later, on April 29, 2024, he passed away.  But Zella’s not letting this be the end of his story. She’s keeping his story alive by using her platform as a Teen of Impact to raise awareness around heart health and the life-saving technique of CPR. To read...

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