On September 30, 2026, Melissa High School HOSA program partnered with Carter BloodCare to host the Melissa High School Fall Blood Drive. This event allowed over 50 Health Science CTE students to gain hands-on experience in a medical setting, working with real medical professionals.
Carter BloodCare provided leadership training for the HOSA officers and enabled our Health Science junior and senior CTE and HOSA students to actively participate throughout the blood drive. Throughout the day, Melissa High School CTE students engaged in a wide range of essential tasks, including checking in and out donors, conducting pre-screening, providing educational information, monitoring for potential reactions, escorting students back to class, and swiftly addressing any challenges that arose.
Through this collaborative effort, 185 appointments were filled, we had 100 first-time donors, and 124 units of blood were donated. A single unit of blood can potentially save three lives, which means Melissa Cardinals may have contributed to saving up to 372 lives in North Texas.
We are proud of our Health Science CTE and HOSA students for their hard work and dedication throughout the blood drive. Their efforts made a meaningful difference in our community and helped save lives across North Texas.