Our students understand the meaning of community!

High School Hero Cord Program

At Miller-Keystone Blood Center, 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. Our Red Graduation Cord 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 2023- 24 High School Red Cord Program has now CLOSED.
Application for the 2024-25 Red Cord Program will begin in February 2025.

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 RED CORD:

  • Donate Blood 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.
  • Volunteer Four (4) Or More Times for the High School’s Blood Drives 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.), or work in the canteen at their designated school blood drive.
    • Volunteer hours must be approved and verified by a school sponsor.
Eligibility Criteria and Graduation Guidelines

Additional Requirements

  • Blood donations 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.

Participating Schools | High School Cord Program

* asterisk indicates school is certificate-only

School Not Listed Form

Is your school not listed? Please complete the form.