The American Red Cross has awarded four $750 scholarships to Poplar Bluff High School students who completed successful applications reflecting on their efforts in helping to host blood drives.

Young Minds Change Lives scholarship recipients included seniors Lauren Dickerson, Maria Polasek, Jordyn Shearrer and Isabella Sifford, the organization announced on Wednesday, April 21.

Poplar Bluff received the most award money in the Missouri Arkansas region for collecting a total of 320 units of blood, which is a testament to the giving nature of the community, according to account manager Jerrica Fox. “It’s been that way for as long as I can remember,” she said.

The student body typically hosts a spring and fall blood drive, but this year the school also held a series of staff drives during in-service days in order to meet the threshold.

“We are so proud to have continued this tradition considering the number of virtual students that were not in our building anymore; considering the opening of the Mark Twain School, which relocated students previously on our campus to a new learning environment; and considering the pandemic in general,” said Jennie Randolph, Student Council adviser. “Our students looked for ways to continue finding donors and making the act of service a fun experience for students and staff.”

Isabella and Maria stated on their applications that they each have plans to enroll in nursing programs following graduation. Isabella wrote that the program at the University of Missouri is highly competitive, and volunteering at blood drives has prepared her for the interview process. Maria added that she has learned there is “more to life than focusing on menial tasks to allow myself to get ahead.”

Both Jordyn and Lauren commented how the experience has helped them to overcome nervousness or anxiety, and break out of their shells. Jordyn said that she “found true joy in doing things that would help my peers and community” and service-learning helped fill a void in her life. Lauren noted that the experience allowed her to “discover my potential and how I can purposefully contribute to society.”

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Cutline: (Left to right) Pictured with Student Council adviser Jennie Randolph, scholarship recipients were Isabella Sifford, Jordyn Shearrer, Lauren Dickerson and Maria Polasek.