High School Hero Cord Program

Our students understand the meaning of community!

Our objective is to ready young adults into becoming responsible individuals who contribute to our community by ensuring a safe and stable blood supply.

Today’s high school students are tomorrow’s lifesavers, and we need them to become life-long blood donors. This program is designed to recognize seniors at their graduation ceremony for being a life-saving blood donor, and to honor them for making significant contributions to our community.

Application for the High School Cord Program is now OPEN – CLICK HERE

Each student who qualifies will receive a Certificate and red Recognition Cord.  Note: select schools participate in the Certificate Program, but not the CORD.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Your Donor Resources Representative
1-800-B-A-DONOR

How the CORD Recognition Program works:

There are 2 ways to earn your CORD:

1. Donating Four (4) Or More Times During High School Career
   • Students 16 years of age and older must register to donate blood four (4) or more times during their high school career.
     • Donors must be 16 years of age or older. State law requires written consent by a parent or guardian for 16-year-olds to donate blood.
       • Click here for 16-year-old Parent/Guardian Consent Form
     • Persons 17 years of age or older (or certain emancipated minors) may donate without consent of a parent or guardian (unless required by their high school).
   • Donations can be made at high school blood drives, community blood drives, or at one of Miller-Keystone’s donor centers.
2. Volunteer Four (4) Or More Times During High School Career
   • VOLUNTEERING: Students who are ineligible to give blood may still participate in the Cord Recognition Program by volunteering to assist on a minimum of four (4) blood drives during their high school career.
   • As a volunteer they may recruit donors, become donor aides, or work in the canteen at their designated school blood drive.
   • Volunteer hours must be approved and verified by a school sponsor or our volunteer office.

Additional Requirements

• Blood donation and volunteer hours cannot be combined – qualified cord recipients must have donated blood at least 4 times OR volunteered at least 4 times. Unfortunately we are unable to accept a combination of these two activities.
• Graduating seniors must fulfill these requirements by May 15 or their high school awards event, whichever comes first.
• Miller-Keystone Blood Center and the participating high schools will work closely together to identify all graduating students eligible for the Cord and/or Certificate.
• The student’s high school must participate in the Cord Recognition Program in order to receive the Cord and/or Certificate for graduation.  Click here to see participating schools.