The Blood Center of Iowa, a subsidiary of LifeServe Blood Center, began a new blood donation initiative in 2009 to encourage high school students ages 16 and older to donate a gallon of blood before graduating from high school. The following local high school students are being recognized as Gallon Grads this year:
- Lisa Button, Adel-DeSoto-Minburn High School
- Zachary Buscher, Adel-DeSoto-Minburn High School
- Patrick Stall, Ballard High School
- Katie Berner, Centerville High School
- Erik Hanna, Central Campus High School
- Mara Wengryn, Central Decatur High School
- Dustin May, Clarke Community High School
- Seth Behrends, Clarksville High School
- Whitney Hines, Clear Lake High School
- Jacob Knobbe, Decorah High School
- Amberyl Hauser, Dike - New Hartford High School
- Katie Coon, East Marshall High School
- Joseph Rhodes, Hoover High School
- Cole Schimelfenig, Indianola High School
- Nathan Steussy, Jefferson Scranton High School
- Chelsey Kopp, Lake Mills High School
- Jackson Anderson, New Hampton High School
- Alexander Gearhart, Newton High School
- Cody Etter, Newton High School
- Kathernine Healy, Newton High School
- Kailer Stevenson, Newton High School
- Leah Norcross, Newton High School
- Erik Furrey, Norwalk High School
- Jacob Wenger, Norwalk High School
- Michael Salati, Ogden High School
- Brett Daniel, Ogden High School
- Todd Murphy, Perry High School
- Brian Lamont, Perry High School
- Matthew Stanger, SE Warren High School
- Austen Pressein, SE Warren High School
- Cody Ripperger, SE Warren High School
- Shane Blackford, SE Warren High School
- Reece Penning, South Hamilton High School
- Douglas Steinkamp, St Edmond High School
- Bradford Bisbee, St. Ansgar High School
- Ian Halliday, St. Ansgar High School
- James Mohlis, Sumner High School
- Clinton Rethamel, Sumner High School
- Jessica Kantak, Webster City High School
- Jason Newsome, West High School
In order to become a Gallon Grad, students had to make eight whole blood or four double red cell blood donations before graduation. Achieving this milestone required a large commitment from these students, who took time from their busy schedules to make blood donations at their local high school blood drives and at blood drives that took place within the community. Each of these students made a significant contribution to their community by helping to save the lives of approximately 24 different hospital patients.
People who begin donating blood at a young age often build a life-long habit of making life-saving blood donations. By understanding the importance of donating blood now, they are likely to continue donating blood in the future, which will help to maintain a stable blood supply.
The Blood Center of Iowa joined operations with Siouxland Community Blood Bank in April, 2010 to become LifeServe Blood Center. As one of the 15th largest blood centers in the country, LifeServe Blood Center provides blood and blood products to 87 hospitals located across Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota. LifeServe is committed to providing premier service to volunteer blood donors and access to a safe, quality blood supply for hospitals and patients. Eligible blood donors must be at least 16 years old, should weigh at least 120 pounds and should be in general good health. For more information about blood donation or to schedule an appointment to donate blood, call 800.287.4903 or visit www.bloodcenterofiowa.org.