GERMANTOWN, Ohio – Community Blood Center and Vectren awarded a $1,000 Lead The Way Creative Scholarship to Valley View High School senior Karson Hudson for her “The Sound of Life… Keep it Going” blood drive campaign during the school’s May 15 Senior Awards Ceremony.
CBC/Vectren Lead The Way applicants were challenged to design a winning marketing campaign for a high school blood drive. They submitted a campaign slogan, explained why it would encourage fellow students to donate, and expressed their campaign theme with innovative and artistic marketing techniques.
Karson sang in school musicals and the chamber choir at Valley View. She’s also a hospice volunteer and has made four lifetime blood donations. She says her “The Sounds of Life… Keep it Going” theme combines her twin passions of helping others and music. She designed artwork for both a t-shirt and recyclable shopping bag. It features a musical scale with blood drops as the notes, with each representing a different blood type.
“Just like notes and melodies make up the music that we live, blood drives are heartbeats that give us the sound of life,” she wrote. “Additionally, if people are apprehensive or nervous about donating blood, incorporating music can serve as a way to relax people and make them more comfortable.”
Valley View Principal Todd Kozarec, blood drive coordinator and NHS adviser Sarajane Steinecker, and CBC Account Representative Donna Teuscher presented the award to Karson.
“It’s been a long partnership with Community Blood Center, run through our National Honor Society,” said Principal Kozarec. “It’s great to honor a student like Karson who has given back to the community.”
“I think it’s very important for our students to take part,” said school nurse and co-blood drive coordinator Michelle Hoog. “We encourage them because it sets them up to be lifetime donors.”
Karson plans to major in nursing at Case Western University and specialize in neonatal nursing.
Solvita Blood Center 