100 students participate in senior class blood drive (Dec. 16, 1994)

by Karen Weidner, ’94-’95 staff reporter

re-typed by Jennie Alcantar, Web Editor

The Life Source blood drive, sponsored by the senior class, was Dec. 5.

A goal of 100 blood donors was pre-set by the senior class, but the final count was estimated at 93. The low number of donors this year could be attributed to the new pre-enrollment procedure established.

In previous years, students 17 or older could walk-in and donate blood at whatever time they chose. This year, however, students had to have a field trip form pre-signed by their teachers for two consecutive periods.

“The procedure was new this year, and we hope students will be more familiar with the system when the spring blood drive rolls around. It will be the same field trip form, so that should make things run even smoother,” Karen Rinella, senior class co-sponsor, said.

The number of students who actually volunteered to give blood was well over 100, but some were turned away for a variety of reasons.

Reasons included colds, low iron counts, weight under 110lbs., pierced ears within the last six months, medications, and travel out of the country within the year.

Students on the whole said they had a pleasant experience dontating.

“It was my first time giving blood and I was scared, but it wasn’t too bad. I’d do it again. Plus, we got neat stickers!” Jill Pawelski, senior, said.

“This was my second time, so it was a lot easier and I wasn’t nervous at all,” Shelli Ledbetter, senior, said.

There were students, however, who disagreed.

“It was the worst experience of my life. I felt like I was going to faint the rest of the day,” Emily Hammes, senior, said.