Photo by Amy Cherry American Red Cross interns Mindy Elias, 19, and Brock Leitzel, 21, both of Ridgway, organize material for the upcoming First Annual Summer Scholarship Challenge where area school’s compete against one another in registering the most donors. A $500 scholarship will be awarded to the winning school to present to a graduating senior.

By Amy Cherry

Staff Writer

A healthy competition between area schools will benefit both the American Red Cross and one graduating senior as part of the First Annual Summer Challenge.

The Elk-Cameron Counties Chapter of the American Red Cross is issuing the challenge to all underclassmen, graduating seniors, school staff and alumni from all area schools to donate blood during July and August.

Schools involved in the challenge include Elk County Catholic, St. Marys Area, Ridgway, Johnsonburg and Cameron County high schools.

The school with the highest percentage of presenting donors based on the school’s population will receive a $500 scholarship from the Elk-Cameron County Red Cross, which the school may award to a graduating senior of their choice.

“The school’s have been very good to us throughout the year. We want to give something back to the schools as a way of saying thank you,” said Mary Kucenski, Elk-Cameron Red Cross executive director.

The challenge is taking place at any area Red Cross blood drive within the next two months.

Anyone can donate anywhere by simply informing the registration volunteer of the donor’s school of choice. One example includes a student, staff, alumni or parent attending a blood drive in Ridgway but wishes to donate for Elk County Catholic.

Janet Lion, local blood service coordinator, has worked on organizing the new Scholarship Challenge.

“We’re trying to bring up our summer numbers and help out a student at the same time,” Lion said.

Special student blood drives are scheduled for Aug. 11 in Ridgway at St. Leo’s, for Aug. 12 at the St. Marys Moose Club located at 30 Erie Ave., for Aug. 13 at the Emporium VFW and on Aug. 14 at the Johnsonburg Senior Center.

The general public is encouraged to donate at local blood drives taking place today at the St. Marys Moose Club from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., on Thursday at the Weedville American Legion on Rt. 255 from 1 to 6 p.m. and on Friday at the Ridgway Central Hose Co. on North Broad St. from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

According to Kucenski, the Scholarship Challenge funding has been obtained from regional infrastructure funding to help with administrative costs for next year. She explained the local chapter is utilizing the funding for the scholarship.

As a donor incentive any student participating in the challenge will receive a free t-shirt while adults in St. Marys will receive a parking sign, to place in their windshield for free parking when they are attending a blood drive. Kucenski said the chapter is working on obtaining donor gifts for those in Johnsonburg, Ridgway, Kersey and Emporium.

Anyone 17 years of age and older, weighing at least 110 lbs. and in generally good health, is eligible to donate blood. Sixteen-year-old students may also donate provided they furnish an original signed Informed Parental Permission form, available at www.donatebloodnow.org/16/sixteenpermission.pdf, their school office or at the local chapter located at 808 S. Michael Road in St. Marys. Photo identification is also a requirement to donate blood.