Smiths Station, Al. (January 5, 2023)— Piedmont Columbus Regional has named athletic trainer Kerri Reeves with Smiths Station High School the organization’s First Friday Hero for the month of January.

After a basketball practice one afternoon, an argument took place between two high school students. One student went to his car and came back inside the gym with a gun threatening to kill the other student.

Kerri Reeves stepped in front of the armed student, shielding the other student who was being threatened, deescalated the situation and told the armed student to leave. The armed student left the school, and was arrested a short time later by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.

A ceremony with Reeves and hospital leadership was held Friday morning to commend her for her response. Her story is also featured throughout the hospital on commemorative posters and Piedmont Columbus Regional’s social media pages.

Piedmont Columbus Regional created the First Friday Hero program in mid-2016 to recognize first responders each month who have gone above and beyond the call of duty.

“Their line of work is often a thankless job and we want to make the community aware of our local heroes and all they do to make the Chattahoochee Valley a better and safer place,” said Piedmont Columbus Regional CEO Scott Hill.