Scarsdale Whiz Kid: Hannah Cooperman

Name: Hannah Cooperman, age 15

School: Scarsdale Alternative School, 10th grade 

Accomplishment: Scarsdale Girl Scout Hannah Cooperman earned her Girl Scout Gold Award by writing and instructing an interactive curriculum that educates children about influenza. 

Key to Awesomeness: Hannah has been involved in Girl Scouts since she joined her mother's troop in the first grade. In order to earn the prestigious Gold Award, Hannah had to conceptualize, plan, and execute an 80-hour service project that benefited the greater surrounding community. 

"I'm interested in public health, and the flu is a big problem," Hannah said. "Many people die from it. There are misconceptions about the flu and the flu shot, and I thought informing children about it would be a good idea." 

Hannah worked with pediatrician Dr. Herbert Newman and Candace Cowan, a teacher at Scarsdale High School, to create an informative curriculum that could heighten influenza awareness, treatment and prevention. Once Hannah completed the curriculum, she and a team of eight friends piloted it on a test group of 25 Girl Scouts from White Plains. Together, the troop traveled to Hannah's home in Scarsdale and participated in an interactive workshop in which Hannah broke the girls into groups and sent them to four stations set up across a room. 

"Each station taught something about the flu," Hannah said. "It was really hands on -- one talked about the immune system and how to keep it strong. Others featured hand washing, flu shots and acting out flu symptoms. I tried to make it as hands-on as possible to keep the girls interested." 

Hannah hopes that her curriculum will dispel common influenza myths and encourage children to take conscientious health precautions. 

"Many people don't think that they need a flu shot if they've gotten one in the past, which is false," Hannah said. "You need to get one every year. Also, you can't get the flu from the flu shot -- and even if you do get it, it's a very mild version. Finally, a lot of nurses who work in hospitals don't get vaccinated, which is not good. Even if they don't have flu symptoms, they can still spread the virus to other people." 

Hannah hopes that her curriculum will be used by future health teachers, Scout troops and school systems.  

"The big thing that separates the Girl Scout Gold Award from the Boy Scout Eagle Award is that whatever project a Gold Award earner completes needs to be continuable for years," Hannah said. "That's why I had to make a curriculum instead of just a workshop." 

In addition to earning her Gold Award, Hannah spends her time volunteering at White Plains Hospital. Last month, she completed an internship at a women's health clinic in White Plains. She eventually hopes to study public health or medicine in college.