Say no to vaping: Hinson Middle School PTSA holds anti-tobacco pep rally for students

Hinson Middle School students listened to Walker McKnight's story, a Florida resident who recently underwent a double lung and kidney transplant due to complications from vaping.

By Jarleene Almenas
| 2:50 p.m. April 1, 2024

Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood speaks to students during the pep rally on Monday, April 1, at Hinson Middle School. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Seabreeze High School students Brooke and Bree Johnson sing the national anthem during the pep rally on Monday, April 1. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Ormond Beach Mayor Bill Partington speaks during the pep rally on Monday, April 1, at Hinson Middle School. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Mayor Bill Partington and the Hinson Middle School PTSA: President Lisa Benitez, Suzette Calabrese, Roshni Patel and Amy Annon. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood speaks during the pep rally on Monday, April 1, at Hinson Middle School. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Daytona Beach City Commissioner Paula Reed, Volusia County School Board member Carl Persis and Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Daytona Beach City Commissioner Paula Reed speaks during the pep rally on Monday, April 1, at Hinson Middle School. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Volusia County Council of PTA President Jenny Wessler speaks during the pep rally on Monday, April 1, at Hinson Middle School. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Volusia County School Board member Carl Persis speaks during the pep rally on Monday, April 1, at Hinson Middle School. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Students play basketball during the pep rally on Monday, April 1, at Hinson Middle School. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

T-shirts are tossed into the air during the pep rally on Monday, April 1, at Hinson Middle School. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Students play basketball during the pep rally on Monday, April 1, at Hinson Middle School. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Walker McKnight shares his story as his father, Dave McKnight, looks on. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Volusia County School Board member Carl Persis, Daytona Beach City Commissioner Paula Reed, Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood and Walker McKnight. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Students play basketball during the pep rally on Monday, April 1, at Hinson Middle School. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Ormond Beach Observer
News

At least one Volusia County Schools student is sent to the hospital every week in relation to vaping.

Volusia County School Board member Carl Persis shared this statistic during a tobacco free awareness pep rally at Hinson Middle School on Monday, April 1. The Healthy Bodies Campaign event was made possible thanks to a grant awarded to the school's PTSA by the National PTA. The pep rally, emceed by with radio station 94.1 DJ Jay Love, featured a scrimmage basketball game between the Hinson boys and girls basketball teams, who were joined by Bethune-Cookman University girls basketball players.

Persis, who is involved with Students Working Against Tobacco, asked the students in attendance to take the dangers of e-cigarette use seriously.

"I know it sounds so like, 'Oh, that could never happen to me,'" Persis said. "Well, the person that went to the hospital thought it could never happen to him or her either."

Guest speaker Walker McKnight knows this firsthand. He began vaping at 18 years old, and within three months, he was put on life support. In 2022, he underwent a double lung and kidney transplant.

Now 24, Mcknight told Hinson Middle School students that he lost his future because of vaping.

"You don't want to take for granted how healthy your body is right now," McKnight said. "You're never going to get your health back once it's gone."

Two months into his freshman year at Florida Atlantic University, where he was a cheerleader and volleyball player, Mcknight came home very sick, said his father, Dave McKnight. A hospital visit revealed he had a severe infection in his left lung and he was admitted to the intensive care unit. Days later, he was connected to a respirator.

If it weren't for the double lung and kidney transplant, Dave McKnight said, his son would be dead.

"My hope and prayer for all of you is that you realize that there's dangers involved with doing drugs of all kinds, especially ones that have not been thoroughly tested and approved," he said. "Your body is precious, your mind is sensitive and your heart is fragile, so take care of it."

Walker McKnight asked the middle school students to raise their hands if they knew someone who vaped. Several did.

"That's a lot of you," he said.

Mayor Bill Partington issued a proclamation and asked students to stay away from all forms of tobacco.

"Y'all are young, you're healthy," Partington said. We've invested a lot in you — not only your parents have invested a lot in you — but your overall community has invested a lot in you because we want you to be successful. You have your entire futures in front of you. You can do whatever you want to do, and I can tell you this, your city needs you."

Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood warned students of the unseen dangers of vaping — the traces of other drugs, such as fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine they may contain, particularly in the vape cartridges obtained on the streets.

"We have seen high school kids overdose," Chitwood said. "They believe they're vaping THC oil. In reality, they're vaping fentanyl."

Daytona Beach City Commissioner Paula Reed spoke about peer pressure and said students must make up their own minds.

"Some time in your life, you're going to determine a job or career that you want to have," Reed said. "And in doing so, you have got to be the best you that you can possibly be. So today's program is to encourage you to not take on vaping and taking on smoking, because those are definitely some hindrances."