Caroline Podvin, 18, a student at Ursuline Academy of Dallas, is completing her Girl Scout Gold Award by educating her peers, teachers and community about concussion awareness and prevention. Caroline became passionate about teaching and helping others to recognize a concussion after her own personal injury in 8th grade. Through her research she learned how to access a concussion injury and the treatment process from start to finish. Please see the attached presentation for further information.
To complete her Girl Scout Gold Award, Caroline researched concussion awareness, prevention, and treatment options. In addition, she led volunteers, which included friends from her high school dance team, fellow girl scouts, members of the rugby team and other friends to build collection bins for helmet donations. Children’s Medical Center was over joyed when they received the many helmets.
In Caroline’s words, “this project gave me an opportunity to really understand the start to finish of the concussion process and to give back to the community through education of concussion awareness. In addition, the donated helmets will help many in need to recover quicker. My hope is that the community will be able to recognize when a concussion has taken place and move to treatment much quicker to shorten the potential long-term consequences.”
Children’s Medical Center Dallas is home to the only academic healthcare system in North Texas that is dedicated exclusively to the comprehensive care of children from birth to age 18. Children’s Health is one of the top pediatric hospitals in the country and the fifth largest healthcare provider in the nation.
Caroline has been a member of Girl Scouts since 2nd grade and says the program has taught her valuable life skills. One of the most important was leadership skills along with patience, respect, responsibility, and confidence. In her own words, “I have learned that I can take on big projects and use my resources in an efficient and productive manner.”
The Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can earn, combines leadership development, career exploration and community service. It culminates in an 80 plus hour leadership project that each girl plans and executes according to her own interest and passions. Each girl must discover an issue in the community, connect with experts and community members, and take action to effect positive change.
For more information about Girl Scouts, call Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas at 972-349-2400. Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas is 26,600 girls and 12,500 adult members strong. That's nearly 40,000 girls and adults who believe every girl can change the world! We have girls reaching their fullest potential in 32 northeast Texas counties. Our girls are discovering what’s important to them, connecting with their community, and taking action to make the world a better place!