CHANGES AFOOT FOR BRENHAM ICT BLOOD DRIVE
A change is coming to a long-time Brenham High School tradition.
For 38 years the Career and Technology Department at Brenham High School has hosted a Thanksgiving Blood Drive. Since 2001 the ICT has held a 9/11 Blood Drive and for many years they’ve also held a Spring Blood Drive.
However the blood drive schedule is being re-evaluated and adjusted.
Health Science Technology and HOSA advisor Jeanne Zander says the administration is in the midst of creating a new schedule for consolidating the drives.
Zander says no dates have been set for a new, revamped drive, but she is meeting with Career and Technology Director Cody Stelter, Wednesday to discuss possible options.
Zander says the annual Thanksgiving drive will not take place – in part because the new school schedule has students off that entire week.
Zander and Stelter both say they expect one large, major drive sometime in the spring.
Zander says they are trying to arrange for the Gulf Coast Blood Center to send several donor coaches to the school at various times this year, allowing students to continue to donate blood and earn a special donor chord for graduation.
Stelter says an announcement will be coming soon with details.
I remember as a freshman being too young to give blood at the ICT blood drive and could not wait till I turned old enough to donate. When it finally happened, all my friends and myself went at the same time and gave-what an experience that was! That started my decision to give blood as much as possible and I did until I was later deferred because of an illness. I sure hate to see the ICT blood drive done away with. It is and was so much of Brenham High School!
As a former employee and donor, I have to agree with Mike. The Thanksgiving blood drive is a great tradition not only for the school, students and the community, but also for the blood center and it’s staff. Joe and Mark spent countless hours with their students to pull off the drive. With their help,they changed and help save countless lives. I agree with the previous statement that it would be a shame to let yet another learning experience and tradition be taking away from the community and students.
I agree with Mike Sommerlatte. This is an event that is dear to the founders of it as well as those that took over after Mike became an administrator. If you have even been to the BHS Blood Drive you would see the eagerness and efforts that the students and the teachers involved put into this. If it is indeed cancelled, I will once again be disappointed and not surprised at some of the bad decisions that this district is now making. This would be a slap in the face to Mike Sommerlatte, Joe Antkowiak and Mark Thiel as well as all formers students that were involved. Come on BISD, start making us proud again instead of disappointed !!!!!
Wow! I can’t believe another tradition is being taken away from us. I am appalled! Our students deserve better. Here is our opportunity to come together as many of us have done for over 30+ yrs. and watch the pride these kids have in giving back. These kids learn more about life in that day. Sure we can move the date to spring and do a combo! I doubt that anyone in Administration has a clue about the effort it takes to have such successful drives. No excuse!
As a former Brenham High School graduate I am sad to hear about the blood drives being canceled. They were a great tradition that really brought the community together and made us students realize we could help others with hard work, compassion and team work. While many high school projects seemed meaningless, the blood drives held real value by teaching us valuable skills and by allowing us to give back to our fellow neighbor. I truly hope the school can work together to bring back such a meaningful tradition for our students, community, and world. Commit for life!
A health science teacher and I decided to have a blood drive at BHS 38 years ago. The next year the ICT (Industrial Cooperative Training) students and I decided it would be a great community service project to hold for our club. The students and I worked with the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center for many years, holding many successful blood drives. In 1995 I moved into an administration position in the BISD and Mr. Joe Antkowiak took my position and kept up the blood drive tradition. He and Mark Thiel expanded the blood drives. Students for many years were given the opportunity to share the “gift of life” and continued to do so because they realized they can contribute to society and help so many people by simpliing making a blood donation. I would hope a schedule can be arranged to continue the tradition and the commitment to saving lives through blood donations.
Well said Mr Sommerlatte. It’s a shame that something that brings a community together for the greater good, and saves thousands of lives is at risk of being hindered. Why not bring back all 3 blood drives?
Such a great community project! I hope the blood is there when people need it. Truthfully, there needs to be more blood drives per school year. Not less.
The ICT Blood Drive should remain. This Blood Drive is a pioneer of all the Blood Drives at our School District. The present staff should show better judgement and not let it discontinue. To discontinue the ICT Blood Drive is disrespectful to the founders of this Blood Drive. To reschedule the drive at anytime of year would be acceptable to accommodate the school’s schedule and the needs of the Gulf Coast Blood Center. Nevertheless the ICT Blood Drive Name must stay intact with a rescheduled time. History and Respect of others. I hope we are still teaching that to our youth. Actions speak louder than words.