Caitlin George

Digging Deep

For this star student-athlete, success comes down to consistency and a positive attitude.

Goals, big or small, aren’t easy to reach. They take effort, determination, and persistence. And Caitlin George knows that first hand. She has always been a dedicated, hard-working, and enthusiastic person. But when diagnosed with Post-Concussion Syndrome during 8th grade, it was difficult to stay optimistic. “Black out curtains, darkness, silence, and pain summed up the last half of my year,” recalls Caitlin. The experience taught her a lot about herself and what it takes to tackle adversity. After 18 months of grueling migraines and rehabilitation, she returned not only to playing three sports, but excelling.

For Caitlin, the lessons learned as a student-athlete have given her an appreciation for what’s important in sports — and life. She has been her class president since middle school and is on track to be class valedictorian. She is a varsity letter winner in volleyball, track, and field, and was named Most Outstanding Player for volleyball in 2018. But the achievement she is most proud of is winning the Presidential Gold Medallion for completing over 1,000 hours of community service as a junior.

Caitlin’s passion to pay it forward is making a difference beyond the classroom and the volleyball court. She volunteers with Phoenix Sports Programs and is a junior coach with Club SyrV, a community sports league. She’s involved with numerous organizations to combat hunger, support safe schools, and build stronger communities. And for the past eight years, she’s spearheaded the Meals on Wheels Blizzard Bag Program, a project she launched in fifth grade. Of course, teamwork always comes into play. “Last year I recruited the entire track team to help,” says Caitlin. “I’ve learned that my words and actions can be powerful when motivating others.”