On Friday, the Tappan Zee High School Blood Drive Team attended the New York Blood Center Annual Fall High School Leadership Summit at SUNY Orange Newburgh. Students from across the Hudson Valley gathered for the training, which focused on the local impact of blood donations and effective methods to boost blood drive participation. Teams shared their successes and and methods for leveraging social media to drive participation, as just five percent of eligible donors participate in blood drives.
Several Blood Drive Team members are interested in healthcare careers and see team involvement as a first step. “The summit was an extremely valuable experience. We can apply what we’ve learned to enhance our outreach to students, faculty, and the community in South Orangetown,” said Gabbi L., a TZHS junior who plans to become a physician. “Hearing a survivor story really inspired and motivated us to get more people to our drives.”
