Sarah Galvan was one of 577 students who graduated from Turlock High School on Friday, but before the ceremony, she unveiled a parting gift to current and future students and staff that was nearly eight months in the making.

On Wednesday afternoon, Galvan, her family and Turlock High School staff held a grand opening ceremony for their newly renovated athletic training room, an Eagle Scout project supported by dozens of local organizations and community members.

“What started as an idea last October turned into a $30,000 renovation that reflects the heart of the school and community,” said Galvan, who is a Life Scout in Scouting American Troop 2451. “This room isn't just new floors and cabinets, it's a space that will serve over 700 student athletes, where injuries will be treated, careers will be supported and futures will be protected.”

The room within the decades-old building connected to Bulldog Arena was last renovated nearly 15 years ago.

The “idea” that Galvan alluded to actually began more as a joke between her and athletic trainer Tiana Barron. Barron has served as the athletic trainer for the past two years, and Galvan, the president of Turlock High’s Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) has been by her side for most of that time as part of a sports medicine internship.

“We often talked about how we could improve the athletic training room one day, half joking, we said, ‘Let's just take the wall down!’ Galvan said. “And I told my mom about the conversation, and she said, ‘Why don't you make that your Eagle Project?’ I thought, if I could, I would, and that moment sparked the idea.”

There are roughly 700 student-athletes at Turlock High School, and the latest renovation has the capability of treating up to 90 on Barron’s busiest days.

“The room was way too small and not as used properly as we needed, so I'm so glad that Sarah saw what needed to be done and was able to take action,” Barron said.

Action began by Galvan writing a proposal and having meetings with Principal David Kline, Athletic Director Mike Brown, Athletics Administrator Joe Cusenza, Activities Administrator Aaron Mello, several coaches including football skipper James Peterson, and the man who spent plenty hours alongside his staff doing hands-on work like demolition and plumbing — Custodial Operations Supervisor Martin Gutierrez. 

The $35,000 renovation began just before the new year, and Barron moved to her temporary home on the second floor of the Louise Marchant Gymnasium. After Galvan and mother, Bernadette, went on a tour of town meeting with organizations and asking for support, the donations started piling in.

Those whose financial support helped Galvan become the third Eagle Scout in her family  — behind older siblings and Troop 451 members Jacob and David — included the Turlock Lions Club, Kiwanis of Greater Turlock, the Kayla Bernardi Bee Positive Foundation, Ciara’s Circle of Hope Foundation, KW Recovery Lab, JD Landscaping, Turlock QB Club, Turlock Aquatics Boosters, THS Cross Country/Track Boosters and hundreds of private donors made up of administration, teachers, parents, family, alumni and fans.

Also lending a helping hand were 28 volunteers from Turlock Troops 2451 and 451, Turlock High HOSA sports medicine students, and Barron and her family. In total, there were 580 hours of work donated between 49 workers.

Bernadette, a Scoutmaster for Troop 2451 and the HOSA advisor and sports medicine instructor and Turlock High, described the project as a prime example of “the impact that connections make in our community.”

With the wall across the middle of the room gone, and a reorganization of equipment, there is more room to move around. And with the equipment being updated, recovery can be done properly and more efficiently.

Of the new additions — many curated with the help of KW Recovery Lab — are five treatment tables (two located in a dedicated taping station), two whirlpool tubs, a pair of station cycles, storage units for new water jugs, towels and hygiene products, a new sink, and most important of all, and ice machine that had been unavailable to Barron since December. The new amenities are complemented with fresh paint from Paul’s Paint Company and help from donated supplies from Dunn-Edwards, as well as brand new flooring, including an engineered wooden deck under the two tubs, from RJ Commercial Flooring.

“It's so great to be here and be a part of this community, and I'm just so grateful to be able to inspire kids like Sarah and be an inspiration to our student-athletes,” Barron said at Wednesday’s ceremony. “Every day when I became an athletic trainer, it was mostly just to provide for the kids, create a safe space for them and create that relationship with them where they can come to me for anything that's bothering them, and just I'm just here as a helping hands, and I’m grateful for the support I have.

Galvan, who will study Kinesiology at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, offered thanks to the dozens of campus community members and donors in attendance Wednesday for helping her “grow as a leader and as a future healthcare professional.”

She was presented with a plaque commemorating the competition of the Eagle Project, created by Rigoberto Noriega, owner of RVC Designs and Pack 451 Cubmaster. 

“I've learned that real change comes from collaboration, vision and the courage to follow through, even if that starts with a joke,” Galvan said with a laugh. “Thank you all for your support, your encouragement and believing in me for this project. Go Bulldogs and let's continue building spaces that serve and support our community with pride.”