By Conrad Dudderar
Staff Writer
Yukon High School student leaders need at least 200 giving, caring people to sign up for their second of three blood drives this school year.
Oklahoma Blood Institute (OBI) personnel will collect from Yukon school patrons and students during the YHS Student Council blood drive set 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9 inside the YHS Auxiliary Gym, 1777 S Yukon Parkway.
“We’re on track again to win the championship,” YHS Student Council/Leadership advisor Darryl Andrews said.
Indeed, YHS is striving to claim its fourth straight award for being the highest-yielding 6A school in OBI’s region – which covers all of Oklahoma and parts of Arkansas and Texas.
YHS was previously honored as state high school blood drive champions for the 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2021-22 school years. (There was no competition in 2020-21 due to COVID-19).
Recruitment is now underway for the Friday YHS Student Council blood drive. People as young as 16 years may donate.
“Our goal is 150 usable units,” Andrews noted. “To get that, we really have to sign in 200 to 225 people.
“We passed our goal last time. With more students eligible, we hope to increase the total this time.”
Some 168 life-saving usable units – 132 whole blood and 36 red blood cell donations – were collected during YHS Leadership’s fall blood drive three months ago.
About 40 community members joined YHS students and staff among 218 people who registered to give Sept. 9.
Some 30% of OBI’s blood supply comes from educational institutions including high schools and colleges.
Each donation has the potential to save three lives, Andrews pointed out.
“Oklahoma is known for lending its support in time of need,” he added.
Yukon’s longtime Student Council and Leadership Class advisor has helped coordinate the school’s blood drives since the 1990s.
“What makes our drives so different from many others is that they are truly student-led and student-driven,” he said. “That shows in the support of the community and the people that they get to donate.
“We get a lot of parents who come in.”
About 40 YHS student leaders have been organizing and planning the Dec. 9th blood drive. Some 30 students will work the event.
SIGN UP NOW
To make an appointment to give blood on Dec. 9 at YHS, call (405) 265-4416, ext. 2616 or email darryl.andrews@yukonps.com.
Donors may save time by scanning a QR code to sign up and select an appointment time.
For an online appointment, click on the “Express Donor” tab at www.obi.org
Adults will be moved to the front of the line at the YHS blood drive. All donors will receive a special T-shirt as a gift.
A third YHS student blood drive, planned and presented by Student Council members and Leadership Class students, will be next March.
