Pearland Girl Scout raises awareness of texting while driving, earns Gold Award

Kristin Johnson is the recipient of the Girl Scouts Gold Award for her organization of a campaign raising awareness about the dangers of texting and driving.

Girl Scout Kristen Johnson earned the Girl Scouts of the USA's Gold Award for an awareness campaign on the dangers of texting while driving.

Johnson and her group of volunteers led four informational sessions about texting while driving, discussing the dangers and consequences with more 160 participants.

"I chose this project because texting and driving is becoming a growing trend, and it is a lot more dangerous than people realize," Johnson said in a press release. "I figured if I could reach out to just a handful of drivers and get them to reconsider texting and driving, the roads could be a safer place."

The Girl Scouts of the USA's Gold Award requires a number of achievements, including three years of work toward scouting awards and more than 100 hours of community service work. One of the last requirements is the Gold Award's service project. Less than five percent of all Girl Scouts receive the Gold Award, according to the release.

A five-year member of the Girl Scouts of the San Jacinto Council, Johnson is a member of the track, choir, dance and culinary arts programs at Dawson High School in Pearland. She will be attending college in the fall to study physical therapy.

For more information on the Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council, visit gssjc.org or call 1-800-392-4340.