From NHS to Spanish Honor Society, students involved in honors programs are often decorated in senior cords during their high school graduation. However, for those not a part of these societies, there is now a new way for students to earn a cord.
Heritage students are now eligible to wear a red cord at graduation if they donate blood at least twice their senior year. Next year, the requirement will be raised to three blood donations in order to receive the cord.
“We decided to add the cord to incentivise seniors to donate as well as to give students a chance to earn one,” said senior and NHS blood drive coordinator Nick DiStefano. The Red Cord Honor program is a nationally recognized program that “recognizes students for their desire and commitment to providing life-saving donations,” according to the Community Blood Center.
“Many people have donated once, and others have donated none,” DiStefano said. With two more blood drives yet to take place this year, March 8 and May 9, the number of seniors to receive the cord is pending. Nonetheless, DiStefano made the message of the cords clear: “Come and donate.”
