Lake Oconee Academy recently recognized two high school students for their efforts in coordinating the school’s blood drive earlier this year.
The two Beta Club members, junior Chandler Clark and senior Lynn Nation, each received a $500 Red Cross scholarship in recognition of the event’s success.
According to a press release from the school, LOA collected 34 total units of blood from the most recent donation drive, qualifying the school for a $1,000 scholarship.
LOA Beta Club sponsor Kris Stevens then requested the Red Cross to split the scholarship for Nation and Clark, as the blood drive “would not be possible without their help.”
“We met our minimum number of units and then kind of overachieved, and that’s why in the past we may have been awarded a $500 scholarship or $250, but we did so well on both of ours this year that we were awarded $1,000,” Stevens said. “Honestly, it wouldn’t have worked without them, so they were very helpful, and they helped just make it run a lot easier.”
According to Stevens, the two students’ efforts for the drive included multiple activities, with Nation tracking donor registrations and volunteers. At the same time, Clark publicized the event on social media and set out signs around the school.
“Both girls were just extremely helpful on both blood drive days, making sure we had enough participation as far as helping members, because we have to work registrations, have to get them signed in,” Stevens added. “LOA is sometimes a little confusing with its layout, so we needed to have signs all over the campus.”
Stevens said Nation and Clark have expressed interest in continuing blood drive operations this year, as well as in greater involvement with the Beta Club itself.
“Chandler stepped up last year to be really involved and expressed her interest; she really did everything that she could being a sophomore and applied to be an officer, was selected, and did so well,” Stevens said.
“Lynn was a little bit more involved, and so she had done a little bit more work years prior, but has expressed an interest in doing anything that we’re doing; she steps up to the challenge and other things that we do and wants to be involved in serving our community.”
Overall, Stevens said she hopes Clark’s and Nation’s efforts in organizing the blood drive will inspire the younger students in the program to pursue similar community efforts.
She said that, through their roles in the Beta Club, they have “set a good example” of the club’s motto: “lead by serving others.”
“One of the greatest lessons students can learn is that leadership isn’t always in the spotlight,” Stevens said. “Sometimes it’s the quiet work behind the scenes that makes the biggest difference; Lynn and Chandler exemplified what it means to serve others with humility, responsibility, and compassion, and I couldn’t be more proud of them.”