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 Youth
up to the Challenge
The Alaska Military Youth Academy’s Challenge Program is a three-phase,
multi-disciplinary course providing at-risk 16 through 18 year old Alaskans
an alternative, regimented education. The first and second phases of the program
comprise 22 weeks of in-residence training, where the students live in military
barracks on Fort Richardson. Thanks to one of the adult team leaders at the
Academy, Ron Forbes, each class has participated in at least two blood drives
at our Anchorage Center as a part of their life skills and community service.
On Saturday, March 6th,
the Class of 2003-02 graduated from the residential phase of
the program with diplomas, the class was also recognized as "silent
heroes" thanks to their great efforts as blood donors with
the Blood Bank of Alaska. A certificate presented to the Academy
commemorate this class for 53 presenting donors over the course
of two blood drives, from whom we were able to collect 29 units
of blood, ultimately saving the lives of up to 87 Alaskans. Our
congratulations to the cadets of Class 2003-02: they have proved
themselves up to the challenge of becoming productive community
citizens and lifesaving "silent heroes"!
The Blood Bank of Alaska’s High School Challenge is a competition amongst
all of the high schools in Alaska. The challenge is to see which school can
recruit the most blood donors for a single-day blood drive. The winning school
receives the “Just Donate It” trophy and a brass plaque signifying
the winning school and how many donors they recruited. The current winner gets
the trophy to display proudly at their school.
Spring 2003 High School Challenge Winner
Chugiak High School
 Over the past two years Commander Don Houk and the N.J.R.O.T.C. cadets have coordinated
the Spring blood drives at Chugiak High School. In the Spring of 2002 R.O.T.C.
coordinated the blood drive for Chugiak High that ultimately won the High School
Challenge with 87 people presenting to donate. This past Spring Commander Houk
and his cadets decided to break their own state record for a High School blood
drive. They did by setting a new state record with 102 presenting donors. Commander
Houk and the cadets bring a personal approach to recruiting donors: they explain “one
on one” why the blood drive is important and combine that with a unique “bounty” system
where the cadets are given extra credit points for recruiting friends, security
personnel, teachers, and administrators and that has really made the difference.
The end result is more life-saving blood for fellow Alaskans!
Fall 2002 High School Challenge Winner
Service High School
Service High School ran the winning blood drive on Thursday, October
31, 2002. MGySgt. Jim O’Neal and a student committee from
N.J.R.O.T.C. put up the posters and recruited donors “one
on one” to make this a winning drive. They also solicited
participation from the teachers so blood donors would receive extra
credit in their classes for donating. On Halloween, Service High
School had 82 people show up to donate and the blood bank collected
60 pints of blood. With the different products that can be made
this blood went out to help up 180 lives across the state of Alaska!
Way to go Service High School!
Spring 2002 High School Challenge Winner
Chugiak High School
The Spring 2002 winner was Chugiak High School
with an amazing 87 people presenting to donate at their blood drive.
The winning drive was coordinated by the R.O.T.C. and their commander
Donald Houk who set up a plan to win the challenge. First, they
approached the PTA and immediately recruited 50 parents. Next,
they set up an incentive for the cadets, whereby the cadets could
obtain either a community service ribbon or credit for their Hawaii
fund. The cadets worked diligently to recruit additional donors,
including Chugiak High School students and employees for the blood
drive.
 A
donor can either donate at their school for credit on the day of
the blood drive, or they can come to their local
Blood Bank of Alaska center and donate up to two weeks after the
date of their drive. This will allow students an opportunity to
donate if they were unable on the date of their schools blood drive.
This will also allow schools to open up their recruitment efforts
to alumni, parents, and friends to donate and give credit to help
their school take home the High School Challenge trophy!
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