Corridor high school graduates honored for blood donation

Several area high school graduates are not only receiving their diplomas at the end of the school year. They've also managed to make their way into the Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center's (MVRBC) 'Gallon Grad” program.

Nineteen students from Cedar Rapids and surrounding communities were to receive Gallon Grad awards. The Gallon Grad award honors students who have made a commitment to helping save lives through blood donation and have made eight blood donations while still in high school.

The Blood Center established the Gallon Grad award to honor high school students and their spirit of community service at a young age.

'Many students are willing to give blood donation a try when we come to their school for a blood drive,” said Kirby Winn, director of public relations for MVRBC. 'Many have known friends or family who needed to receive a blood transfusion at some time in their lives. Others are motivated just by a desire to help others any way they can.”

Kirby said his organization conceived of the award to give special recognition to students who are dedicated to donating blood amid their busy high school schedules. 'Students are pulled in so many directions these days - with course work, activities, jobs, family and community interests - we think it's really impressive for a student to not only try being a blood donor, but to become a faithful, routine donor while in high school.

Organizers at the Blood Center also hope to be creating a lasting relationship with these students.

'One of the nice aspects about giving blood is that a teenager - someone who presumably couldn't afford to make a large financial gift to a favorite cause - can give as much to support the blood supply as anyone else,” he said. 'And typically, teenagers who give blood in high school will continue as blood donors in the future. We do find a decreased rate of donation for young adults in their 20s, but we also find that those who gave blood successfully while in high school do return as donors once they are in their 30s and beyond.”

Students are eligible to begin donating blood at age 16 (with a signed parental permission form). Most of this year's award winners began donating blood at a blood drive hosted by their high schools. 'These students have done something really special,” said Lisa Sparrow, donor relations consultant for MVRBC. 'As dedicated blood donors, they provide a resource that helps save lives at hospitals throughout our region.”

MVRBC is the exclusive provider of blood and blood components to Mercy and St. Luke's Hospitals in Cedar Rapids.

Gallon Grad award recipients will receive an award certificate and a red cord that signifies the connection between the blood donor, the Blood Center and patients who have been helped by the student's donations. With permission from their school, students may choose to wear the Red Cord in their high school graduation ceremony.