Sophomore Zach Aldrich coordinated an American Red Cross blood drive Feb. 27. The blood drive was connected with the Red Cross NAIA Collegiate Leadership Program that Aldrich participated in over the summer in Washington, D.C.

“Part of that program was to learn about leadership skills through blood drive donations and that sort of thing,” Aldrich said. “And so part of our task after the program was to come back to our schools and put on a couple blood drives.”

Sophomore Zach Aldrich received a scholarship for $2,000 from the American Red Cross for his efforts in planning numerous blood drives for Baker University. He was honored during the halftime of Baker men’s basketball game Jan. 31.Jordan Dolbin

Aldrich was nominated for the program by Baker University President Pat Long.

“She sent me all the information and told me to look into it,” he said, “partially because I was a student-athlete and partially because I was involved in other extra curricular (activities) on campus.”

He received the nomination just 18 hours before the deadline, but was accepted into the program along with 11-14 other students from across the country.

In compliance with the program guidelines, Aldrich hosted one blood drive in the fall semester and one in the spring. In the fall, “roughly 40” individuals donated blood, and there were 30 donations or attempted donations Wednesday.

In total, 50 pints of blood were collected. Thirty-one pints came from the fall drive while 19 pints were collected in the recent blood drive.

“There’s always more people that come to donate, but are turned away for various reasons, like they’ve been into a certain country at a certain time, or they don’t weigh enough, or that sort of thing,”Aldrich said.

Aldrich was also awarded a $2,000 scholarship from the American Red Cross as part of the program.

While the scholarship was a rewarding part of the experience, Aldrich said the program also provided him with other rewards.

“Just getting to work with other top students from across the country and work with some of the heads or leaders of the Red Cross was an amazing experience,” he said, “and it was very humbling to learn from them.”

After this year, he plans on continuing to be a part of the coordination process for future blood drives.

“I know everyone looks forward to them and a lot of people are more than willing to participate in them,” he said. “It just takes someone to kind of put something together and do some of the coordination work.”