This story was originally published on April 11, 2025

Elizabeth “Lizzie” Galvan stood in front of the simulated crime scene with a protractor in one hand, a camera slung over her shoulder, and a mental checklist running through her head. Her team was down a member, her roles had doubled, and the pressure was on, but that didn’t stop the Saginaw High School junior. Alongside her teammate Priscilla Davis (Chisholm Trail High School), Galvan helped lead Hollenstein Career and Technology Center’s (HCTC) Crime Scene Investigation team to a first-place win at the Texas Public Safety Association (TPSA) State Competition in Allen.

Galvan didn’t stop there. She also earned first place in the state in Forensic Anthropology, making her a double state champion.

The victories were hard-earned and well-deserved for this group of students, who spent months preparing for the high-stakes, hands-on event that simulates real-world law enforcement and forensic scenarios. Under the guidance of HCTC Forensic Science teacher Kristen Jernigan, the team spent hours practicing crime scene documentation, collecting evidence, conducting interviews, and preparing presentations.

Despite the setbacks, including a teammate falling ill the night before the final competition, the students stepped up, adapted, and relied on each other’s strengths.

“Since our team leader was gone, we split up our roles,” said Galvan. “Priscilla took the sketcher and team lead role, and I took evidence collecting and photography. We planned every step, and we communicated everything. That’s what made it work.”

Jernigan said that level of communication and adaptability is exactly what made this group stand out.

“Pursuing and overcoming difficulties is what I’m most proud of,” she said. “They had to adapt because someone wasn’t there, and they rose to the occasion.”

Teamwork in Action

The HCTC Blood Spatter Analysis team, made up of Greta Groves (Saginaw High School) and Madison Gallagher (Boswell High School), also faced a last-minute loss of a teammate but still landed a top 10 finish in one of the most technical events of the competition.

“You have a poster board with simulated blood,” said Groves. “You put film over it and draw on it to measure the width and height of five droplets. Then you calculate the angle and tape a string from the droplet so it follows that angle. You do that for all five and calculate where the blood originated.”

Gallagher added, “That gives us a point of origin to show where someone was injured when the blood splattered. They score us on professionalism, math, positioning, everything. We were nervous, but when I saw we made top 10, I was so excited.”

The event had to be completed in just 30 minutes, with every detail, from measurement accuracy to string alignment, factored into the final score.

“It’s crazy we finished in fifth being down a person,” Groves said. “Every part was perfect until the final measurement. But we each picked up the slack. We were all leaders.”

Real-World Experience That Inspires

For Galvan, who plans to pursue a career in crime scene investigation, the experience was more than just a competition.

“This is something I want to do in the future,” she said. “I was so excited to compete. And our teacher is amazing. She prepared us so much.”

The planning and practicing for these events takes months, and success comes from hard work and flexiblity on the part of the students and Jernigan.

“She’s very flexible with our schedules. She made time for all of us to practice,” Gallagher said. “I love law and forensics. Being in this class has opened my mind to all kinds of possibilities.”

Groves, who also competes in mock trial at Saginaw High School, initially took the class to learn more about forensics to make her a stronger mock trial expert witness.

“We have so many opportunities in EMS ISD depending on our interests. I thought, if I take the forensic science class, I'll know more about forensic investigation, and I’ll be a better expert witness,” she said.

That level of commitment from the students continues to impress Jernigan.

“These students wear a lot of hats. They have jobs, athletics, and keep up their schoolwork,” she said. “Lizzie pitches for the Saginaw High School softball team. Greta is a powerlifter and in mock trial. Madison works long hours. These are students who are academically motivated and pursuing different skills in so many areas.”

But beyond medals and rankings, the biggest reward for Jernigan is watching students discover new skills and passions as they take advantage of the wide range of personalized opportunities offered in EMS ISD.

“How would you know you’re good at fingerprinting until you went in the lab and tried it?” she said. “They’re discovering whole worlds that are fascinating and worth their study. Even if they don’t go into forensics or law enforcement, they’re showing up on time, solving problems in real time, thinking on their feet, and communicating effectively, everything we want them to do in the real world.”

We are #EMSproud of these students for representing EMS ISD so well at the state TPSA competition. Keep watching www.emsisd.com through the month of April as our coverage of EMS ISD students at the state TPSA competition continues.