The Valley Way was on full display at the recent fall blood drive. On Friday, September 18th, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., students and community members gathered in the high school lecture hall to make a lifesaving difference.

By the end of the event, the school smashed its original goal of 45 units by collecting an impressive 60 total units of blood. Out of the 69 registered donors who stepped up, 34 were first-time donors. The drive also featured specialized donation methods, including seven Alyx procedures—which allow a single donor to give double the red blood cells in one sitting—for a total of 14 units, as well as one Double Plasma procedure contributing two units.

"I am SO proud of our HOSA chapter members for setting up and running a successful blood drive at the start of the school year, before any official HOSA chapter meetings for planning took place. I am also proud of the student body for stepping up and committing to a procedure that can often feel scary," said HOSA Sponsor Brittani Tiefenbrunn. "Having 34 first-time donors at this drive is amazing! We saved around 180 lives with the blood collected at our drive, and that is definitely something to be proud of. Way to care for others and showcase the Valley Way, GV!"

Thank you to all the donors and volunteers who stepped up to support this incredible effort!