800-B-A-DONOR (223-6667)

High School Hero Cord Program

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
has CLOSED for the 20-21 School Year.  
Application for the 2018-19  High School Cord Program will begin February 1, 2019.

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

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Your MKBC Account Manager
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.
      • 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).
  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 (documented e-blasts, sign up donors, promote the blood drive by student announcement PSA, put up posters and/or distribute flyers if allowed by the school, etc.), 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.

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.