HOSA IN ACTION
HOSA chapters are saving lives—donating their blood stem cells, adding new potential blood stem cell donors to the NMDP Registry, fundraising to support patients and families through their transplant journey, and more. Check out these success stories!
South Elgin High School Hosts Blood/Be The Match Drive for Searching Patient
The South Elgin High School HOSA chapter in Illinois hosted a blood and stem cell registry drive for a searching patient, four-year-old Arlie.
The event was held in a nearby suburb, led by advisor, Dr. Patrick Doranski, and chapter president, Nehmat Kaur.
Congrats, South Elgin, on your very first drive!
Ashley, a college student and HOSA member, donates her blood stem cells to help a stranger—on her birthday!
While most college students celebrate their 20th birthday with friends, Ashley spent the day donating her blood stem cells to potentially save a stranger's life.
After joining the registry at ILC in 2022, Ashley found out she was a match for someone in need just one year later. “When I got the email, I burst into tears and thought ‘I’m going to change someone’s life.’”
When she learned they needed her right away—on her actual birthday—she didn’t hesitate. “I told them I would LOVE to donate on my birthday,” she said. “If that was me who needed a transplant, I hope someone would be willing to do the same.”
“The process was fast and didn’t hurt,” said Ashley, who donated peripheral blood stem cells, a method similar to donating plasma that’s used 90% of the time. The procedure requires filgrastim injections for five days leading up to donation. Those shots led to some soreness, however, Ashley said, “I felt completely fine and safe. I would do it over and over and over again.”
HOSA SAVES LIVES!
"I'm first generation Hispanic, and I just couldn't imagine there might be someone out there struggling to find somebody like me."
–Ashley, blood stem cell donor
Northbridge HOSA Makes the Front Page
The Northbridge High School HOSA chapter in Massachusetts hosted a stem cell registry drive during their Homecoming Day—and made the front page of their local newspaper!
Northbridge High School HOSA hosted a stem cell registry drive during their Homecoming Day—and made the front page of their local newspaper!
The chapter received donations from six local businesses to cover the startup costs and sold 400 tickets, which were sold out a week prior to the dance. In addition to music, the event also featured casino games like poker.
Nice job, Northbridge!
YOUR SUCCESS STORY HERE
?
Do you or your chapter have video, photos, fundraising tips or a story you'd like to share? Submit your content via email to hosa@nmdp.org to be featured here!
Summit Academy High School HOSA Chapter Nominated for the 2023 Livermore Spirit Award
Since June 2020, Summit Academy High School in Bluffdale, Utah has gone above and beyond embracing our life-saving mission. To date, Summit’s HOSA students have raised more than $4,650 and added 545 potential donors to the Be The Match Registry®. Their passion for saving lives has extended to their community as well and students have run or participated in more than 20 registration events. This top chapter assists Be The Match representatives at in-person and virtual events throughout the region. They make regular outreach to all other state chapters and host training sessions to answer questions about getting involved with the Be The Match mission.
In loving memory of Jay and Leigh Livermore, the Livermore Spirit Award honors champions who have consistently shown a remarkable long-term and personal commitment to growing Be The Match's impact through awareness building and fundraising.
Summit Academy was one of four nominees for this prestigious award. And while they did not win, the Livermore family said, "It was a tough decision, all four are great candidates!"
Pie in the Face Fundraiser
The Minot High School HOSA chapter in Minot, ND pulled off the ultimate "pie in the face" fundraiser to benefit Be The Match.
Students and staff donated $1 to vote for staff members to be pied in the face, raising $150.
Now that's having fun AND helping save more lives!
Dickson County High School Raises $7,500 from Homecoming Dance
Students from the Dickson County High School HOSA chapter in Tennesee hosted "A Night in Vegas" Homecoming dance in October 2022 and raised a remarkable $7,500!
The chapter received donations from six local businesses to cover the startup costs and sold 400 tickets, which were sold out a week prior to the dance. In addition to music, the event also featured casino games like poker.
AMAZING job, DCHS Cougars!
Winners of Mall of America Personal Stylist Sessions at Macy's
In November 2022, Be The Match held a drawing for all HOSA chapters registered with a Be The Match page. Five lucky chapters were drawn, and each was invited to send students to Minneapolis! On Thursday, December 8, 2022 fourteen HOSA students from the following chapters traveled to Minneapolis:
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Fayette County, AL
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Auburndale, WI
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Fountain Fort Carson, CO
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Ronald Reagan HS, San Antonio, TX
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Palm Beach Gardens, FL
The students and their chaperones had a jam-packed schedule both Thursday and Friday and traveled home on Saturday. On Thursday, students visited our Be The Match Biorepository and were able to witness science in action – learning about the life-saving process of adding people to the registry all the way to facilitating the collection of the stem cell products. Following the tour, students toured the Be The Match headquarters and were welcomed by two Be The Match Executive Leaders: Joy King, Chief Advancement Officer, and Erica Jensen, Senior VP of Member Engagement, Enrollment and Experience. During dinner students heard from Taylor Brown, Be The Match Case Manager and bone marrow transplant recipient. Taylor was gracious enough to share her story and take questions from students and chaperones.
On Friday, the entire group headed to Mall of America for “Dress for Success” sessions with Macy’s personal shoppers. Each student was given $150 to spend at Macy’s and wristbands to enjoy Nickelodeon Universe (the amusement park in the center of the mall). Students and chaperones grabbed their Macy’s shopping bags and headed out for a day of fun at the mall!
It was such an honor to host HOSA students at Be The Match headquarters. Our hope is that with each visit more HOSA students leave with an even greater understanding of our life-saving mission.
Summit Academy High School HOSA is Raising the Registration Bar in Utah
Jason Kupiec passed away on August 1, 2022. He was one of the “hearts” of Summit Academy High School. He was the “Voice of the Bears,” and a fixture permanently etched into the Summit community and culture. He died due to complications of lymphoma, and he was a reason for the members of Summit Academy High School HOSA to act.
During the 2021-22 school year Summit Academy High School became passionate about registering potential donors to the Be The Match Registry®, accounting for over half of the registrants added collectively by all US HOSA chapters.....read more.
YOUR SUCCESS STORY HERE
?
Do you or your chapter have video, photos, fundraising tips or a story you'd like to share? Submit your content via email to hosa@nmdp.org to be featured here!
AWARDS
SOCIAL
CAMPUS BLITZ
Kiamichi Technology Center in McAlester, OK promoted Be The Match through visual and audio learning! A campus wide blitz of door decorating, registering and recruitment was conducted before, during and after National HOSA week!
HOSA chapter of the Health Careers Education division performed different activities for the purpose of signing up fellow classmates, staff, and students from every class at Kiamichi. Some students posted the recruitment materials on their personal Facebook and encouraged their friends to sign up as well. A major success as HOSA and Be The Match partner up to save lives!
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Meet Keonna, a HOSA alum and recent donor. Keonna has a message for HOSA members ready to change lives with Be The Match!