The Students for Life High School Partnership Program is an innovative partnership between area high schools and Community Blood Center of the Ozarks. Its primary purpose is to provide recognition and scholarships to high school blood donors and to nurture within young people a lifetime commitment to blood donation.

The Partnership Program is also, however, about much more. It is about community. It is about learning. Reaching out and helping others. And it's about creating new and productive relationships between young people and older people in our community.

Purpose and Goals of the Program

High school students play an important role in maintaining our region's blood supply. Local high schools provide our most steady source of first time donors. Equally important, however, is the long-term influence seen in individuals when they become blood donors during their high school years. The donation experience is the primary determining factor in whether a person donates regularly throughout his or her lifetime.

The Students for Life Program seeks not only to recognize the contribution of our high school students, but also to increase their participation in community service, developing a sense of self esteem through helping others.

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How Does the Program Work?

Participating high schools will hold blood drives during the school year, with CBCO's donor recruitment representatives providing coordination and assistance. High schools are also able to challenge each other and receive recognition for their participation as volunteer blood donors.

Throughout the year, each school's achievements will be posted and updated monthly on the web site, so that students can track their standing in several categories, including:

• highest number of registered donors for entire year;
• greatest percentage increase in registered donors over the previous year *;
• highest percentage of donors based on the eligible school population ^;
• highest percentage of summer donors based on the eligible school population ^.

Each school's achievements will be tallied at the end of the school year. Winners will be announced on the website and local newspapers. The award will be presented to the winning school at an assembly in the spring.

* This category requires participation in the SFL program for at least two consecutive years.
^ Due to recent state law revisions, the eligible school population is defined as sophomore, junior, and senior classes in Missouri and Kansas, and junior and senior classes in Arkansas.

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High School Scholarship Program

For area high schools that hold two blood drives within a school year, Community Blood Center of the Ozarks is pleased to give students from those schools a chance at one of forty $500 college scholarships.

Who Is Eligible?

High school seniors involved in the organization of their high school blood drive are eligible to apply for the scholarships. Scholarships will be presented to the winning students at their high school awards assembly by a CBCO representative.

How Do I Apply?

1. Submit a participation sheet signed by the faculty sponsor of the blood drive. This sheet will certify the participation level of each applicant.
2. Submit a 300 to 350 work essay (typed, double-spaced) on the topic: "Why blood donation is a vital community service."

How are Winners Determined?

All submissions will be reviewed by a five-person committee made up of volunteers from communities throughout the CBCO service area. Submissions will be evaluated based on creativity, writing skills, and overall presentations effectiveness. Scholarship awards will be limited to one recipient per high school.

Why Should We Participate in the Program?

By participating in the Students for Life High School Partnership Program, your school will:

• help save lives in our community.
• have an opportunity to receive a $1,000 grant each year.
• provide the opportunity for a student to receive a $500 scholarship each year.
• receive t-shirts for all participants at each blood drive.

In addition, you will be creating a positive opportunity for your students to address community needs. And, most importantly, you will give each student the chance to become a role model to others through the selfless act of giving blood.

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Why Else Should We Become Partners?

While blood donations from local high school students have increased over the years, our community blood supply often falls short of the growing need. The reasons for this growth are two-fold. First, our population is increasing. Second, more blood transfusions are needed for the advanced medical treatments offered in our communities. Your participation in the Students for Life High School Partnership Program will help ensure the long-term health of our community by creating more lifetime blood donors.

Blood collected through high school blood drives represents approximately 25 percent of the total collected throughout the academic year. Last year, these drives resulted in over 13,000 blood donations. Among the 127 high schools that held blood drives, the average number of drives hosted during the year was 1.85 per school.

Amazing results - but patients are counting on us to continue to improve.

Next Steps

We hope you will join us in this important program. Your participation will make a positive difference in our community and in the lives of young people.

If your school is already sponsoring at least two blood drives with CBCO during the school year, then you are already a part of the program. If your school currently hosts one blood drive each year or if you would like to schedule an additional drive, contact your CBCO Donor Recruitment representative today. We'll be glad to assist in the planning process and answer any questions you may have. We look forward to another year of working together to serve hospitalized patients in our communities. With your help Ozarks area high school students will play a major role in maintaining an adequate community blood supply and no need will go unmet.

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