Do "U Got Brains?"

Lacey Township High School (LTHS) was one of 19 schools in New Jersey chosen to be a part of “U Got Brains,” a teen driving safety project and contest run by the Brain Injury Association (BIA) of NJ.

Twelve teens from the LTHS Emergency Services Club led by teacher Renee Gurgacz will participate in the statewide initiative that runs until April 30. The schools will compete to win a driving simulator.

Susan Quick from BIA of NJ personally came to meet with the students and present them with a $1,000 stipend from the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety. She also spoke with them about the importance of brain injury awareness.

Susan’s own son was hit by a car 20 years ago when he was 12 and suffered traumatic brain injuries. His injuries left him without the ability to walk or talk.  She stressed the importance of safe teen driving.

“A teen crashes every 10 minutes,” Quick said, a fact this group seemed very surprised to hear.

Gurgacz entered her group in the “U Got Brains” contest to receive funding for a teen driving safety project. 

The project that the group has chosen to do is a Health Fair that will take place sometime in March or April.  The fair will include groups from the emergency services field as well as health agencies.

The LTHS Emergency Services Group helps train and set students up with local agencies.

“The local squads needed volunteers so I figured I would start a club to help kids get involved in EMS, police, fire and animal rescue,” said Gurgacz, an EMT herself.

Some members of the group, like Haley Kreis and Ryan Trapp, already serve as EMS members. Two former members have entered the police academy.

For more information regarding this project and the BIA, visit www.bianj.org.