Abigail Riley: A Life Changing Project
A blood and organ donor project that Abigail Riley undertook at Tracy High School in 2024 educated her peers about donation’s life-saving possibilities and has motivated her to continue supporting the American Red Cross.
Abigail was a senior when she completed the project through the Agricultural Scientific Academy at Tracy High School and the Girl Scouts of the USA in pursuit of the Girl Scout Gold Award. “My project focused on the importance of living and deceased organ and tissue donation. I visited freshman biology classrooms at two local high schools in Tracy, Tracy High School and West High School,” she said. “I gave hour-long presentations on the facts, benefits and impact of organ donation. I chose to speak to freshmen because many of them will soon be asked whether they want to be organ donors when they apply for their driver’s permit at age 15 and a half.”
To measure the effectiveness of the presentations, she gave pre- and post-presentation surveys to gauge the students’ knowledge. The results showed a significant increase in understanding, which was her primary concern. She also included a Q&A session so students could ask questions and engage with the topic. Abigail reported that over 450 students received the presentation, and 168 of them committed to or were considering becoming donors. She handed out brochures with key information from the presentation, hoping the students would share the information with their families.
As part of the project, Abigail also organized a blood drive at Tracy High School that resulted in the collection of 33 units of blood that could help or save up to 99 lives. “I coordinated every step, from securing the location and date to advertising, recruiting donors and managing the drive itself,” she said.
Now, Abigail is a sophomore at University of Arizona, where she is continuing her work with the American Red Cross through its student club at her campus. “We organize frequent blood drives. My goal is to keep supporting both the American Red Cross and other organizations that promote living and deceased organ donation,” Abigail affirmed. “I also want to continue raising awareness, using every platform and opportunity I have to spread accurate, life-saving information on donation. My ultimate goal in life is to make a meaningful impact wherever I can, and this project was just the beginning of that journey.”
Abigail first learned about organ donation when she was in middle school. Her older sister had a serious knee injury and needed surgery that involved a cadaver ligament. That experience opened her eyes to the life-changing power of organ donation. She realized then how underrepresented this topic is, especially among younger generations. She wanted to change that, as she knew there was a gap in awareness. She developed the idea for the classroom presentations and decided the blood drive should follow as a way to make a direct and measurable impact and to help save lives right away.
Abigail related that the project completely changed her life. “It introduced me to a cause I knew little about and gave me the tools to teach others. I gained confidence in myself, learning how to lead a major initiative and connect more deeply with my community. I also saw firsthand how much support was around me, from teachers and peers to community members, every step of the way.”
Most importantly, this opportunity to serve proved that the young woman could make a real difference when she put in the time, heart and effort. “It showed me that even as just one person, I could save lives,” she said.
