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Solon senior to receive Gallon Grad Award
IOWA CITY - A Solon High School student has become the second person to earn the Gallon Grad Award from the University of Iowa's DeGowin Blood Center.
Ty Appleget, 17, a senior at Solon, will receive a red cord at his senior awards ceremony, and be able to wear it at graduation. Two others, Elizabeth Buckingham and Preston Miller also are expected to be eligible for the award.
Heather Roman, blood drive coordinator at the center, said the program began in 2012, and last May, Solon graduate Brianna Pike was the first to receive her red cord.
'Solon really is the only school that has really grabbed onto the program,” Roman said.
Ty said he decided to take part in the program after Preston Miller suggested it.
'He threw it out there one day, ‘why don't we do this,' and I thought, ‘why not,'” Ty said while donating Thursday.
Ty said he started giving blood in October 2013, six months after he turned 16, the age at which people become eligible to donate. He said originally, he decided to take part in the program because he thought it would be a good achievement.
'But then I learned for every donation, you can save three lives, and it seemed like a pretty good thing to do,” he said. 'Other than the needle prick and the needle pulling, it's just relaxation.”
He added that after donating, he usually goes home and relaxes some more, and replenishes his iron levels by eating a steak.
'One thing he does well after he gives blood is eat,” said his mom, Julie.
Ty said he usually donates a pint every eight weeks, usually after school on his early out days. The donations take anywhere from 5 to 12 minutes.
After donating his eighth pint Thursday, Ty said he didn't really 'realize how much it is.”
'I've possibly saved 24 lives. It makes me feel really good,” he said.
That made his mom and others in the center get tears in their eyes.
'I'm pretty proud,” his mom said.
Ty said after graduation, he is interested in attending Kirkwood or DMACC and learning about baking. His goal is to own his own restaurant.
Ty Appleget, 17, of Ely, has a needle placed in his vein by nurse Kati Armstrong of Iowa City during his eight blood donation Thursday, January29, 2015 in Iowa City at University of Iowa DeGowin Blood Center. This donation earned Appleget the University of Iowa DeGowin Blood Center Gallon Grad Award at his high school graduation in May from Solon High School. (Michael Noble Jr./The Gazette)
Ty Appleget, 17, of Ely, makes his eight blood donation Thursday, January 29, 2015 in Iowa City at University of Iowa DeGowin Blood Center. This donation earned Appleget the UI DeGowin Blood Center Gallon Grad Award at his high school graduation in May from Solon High School. (Michael Noble Jr./The Gazette)
Julie Appleget, 17, of Ely, smiles with tears in her eyes after hearing that her son Ty blood donation's could help save over 24 lives Thursday, January 29, 2015 in Iowa City at University of Iowa DeGowin Blood Center. This was Appleget's eighth donation earning him the University of Iowa DeGowin Blood Center Gallon Grad Award at his high school graduation in May from Solon High School. (Michael Noble Jr./The Gazette)
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