Student inspires excellence in service and receives Girl Scout Gold Award

Natalie Schwind, a junior at Midlothian Heritage High School, was celebrated and recognized by the MISD Board of Trustees at its May 20 meeting. Natalie recently completed a yearlong community service project to support eyeglass recycling efforts with the Midlothian Lions Club. Through the 2023-24 school year, she was able to draw awareness of the importance of recycling used eyeglasses & set up multiple collection points.

Under the guidance of project advisor Karis Schumacher (head nurse at Heritage High School), Natalie rallied support from other student groups, school administrators, and the athletic department and coordinated with members of the local Lions Club. Her efforts included two community collection drives at Heritage High School football games in the fall where health science students and local Lions worked the collection table. Additionally, she set up collection boxes in the nurse’s offices at all elementary campuses, middle schools, and Heritage High School (12 new collection locations).

What began as a project that Natalie adopted to complete a Girl Scout Gold Award project, turned into a shining example of the impact that one passionate volunteer can have in inspiring excellence in the community and service in others. During a Midlothian Lions Club meeting in April, she presented 367 glasses to the Texas Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center.