Blood Bank of Delmarva (BBD) is thrilled to grant more than $21,000 in scholarships to over 30 area students who organized blood drives at their high schools during the 2024-2025 school year. These high schools spanned the region from Claymont, Delaware to Pocomoke City, Maryland.
“These students organized blood drives, recruited donors, volunteered in the café, and even rolled up their own sleeves to donate blood,” said Joanna Arat, BBD Director of Donor Recruitment. “High schools and colleges account for about 25 percent of the blood we collect during the school year, and it’s also a vital entry into the world of blood donation for young people.”
Closing out the school blood drive season for BBD was Smyrna High School. The Smyrna Eagles collected 135 units over four blood drives throughout the 2024-2025 school year. Smyrna High School’s last blood drive on May 29 illustrated the importance of raising awareness about the need for more young people to donate blood. Among the donors were juniors Madison Smith, an allied health student, and Briana Catalon, who knows people who received blood in the Smyrna area, along with Special Education Specialist Katie Mazzio.
“I just feel like it’s very important, especially if it’s not going to harm you in any way,” said Madison. “Just do it.”
As for Mazzio, she has seen a number of family members saved by transfusions. “They’ve been in accidents, lost a lot of blood, and needed transfusions,” she said. “So, it’s always been my goal to give back what saved my family members.”
At Bohemia Manor High School in Chesapeake City, Maryland, first-time donor Hailey Boulden, 16, can relate to what it’s like to see a family member receive blood. Her little brother, Maverick Ford Painter, needed eight units of O negative blood when he was born prematurely in September 2018.
That inspired Hailey to donate at Bohemia Manor’s last blood drive of the year on May 21, when Bo Manor collected a robust 69 units.
“I never knew donating blood would mean this much to me until it saved my brother’s life,” Hailey said. “So, once I turned 16, I knew I wanted to help people survive just like people helped my brother.”
If you are a high school or college student, you can still donate during the summer at one of our donor centers or community blood drives.
