CRANSTON – North Smithfield High School was recognized by the Rhode Island Blood Center with a first place award for a school of its size at the High School Hero Reception and Award Ceremony last week.
The school was also recognized for community engagement, with students in attendance taking home a second trophy honoring their work toward saving lives.
The annual event was held at Top Golf in Cranston on Thursday, Oct. 23, with more than a dozen schools, students and organizations honored for their contributions.
“High school blood drives play a crucial role in educating students about the lifesaving importance of donating blood, while offering them a meaningful way to engage in community service,” noted RIBC in a release on the awards. “Recognizing these students for their contributions helps foster a lifelong commitment to giving blood.”
RIBC noted that since the COVID-19 pandemic, donations from high school and college students have dropped by nearly 25 percent nationwide, posing a long-term challenge to the stability of the blood supply.
“RIBC’s High School Heroes are stepping up to close that gap, inspiring their peers and making a real difference in patients’ lives,” the organization noted.
In North Smithfield, a blood drive held at the school last December brought in 68 units of blood – enough to help save 204 lives. The contributions earned the Greenville Road school a first place distinction for the 2024/2025 year.
As part of the evening’s program, attendees heard from recent Westerly High School graduate and platelet donor Dylan Tallardy, who already has made 67 donations – for a total of 8 gallons of blood – as well as Kathy Finnerty, a RIBC volunteer and blood recipient.
“Donating isn’t about doing something huge or heroic,” said Tallardy. “It’s about showing up. You don’t have to be a doctor or a nurse to save someone’s life, you just have to roll up your sleeve.”
The Scott Wright Memorial Award, named after a 13-year-old North Smithfield boy who was struck and killed at the intersection in front of Brigido’s market in 2010, was given to North Kingstown High School. In the hours of surgery after the accident, doctors utilized a tremendous amount of blood in attempts to save Wright’s life, and the family has been giving back to the organization since, with a drive every year in his memory.
The award in Wright’s name is given annually to the school that collects the most blood donations in the academic year.
“The Rhode Island Department of Education proudly stands with the Rhode Island Blood Center in championing health education and community service in our schools,” said Stephen Osborn, Rhode Island Department of Education Student Opportunity Officer. “By promoting blood donation awareness and supporting vital school blood drives, we are seeing inspired students ready to embrace altruism and lifesaving action from an early age. RIBC’s unwavering commitment to our state’s well-being is a model for us all—let’s continue this collaboration to ensure every Rhode Islander knows the profound impact of giving the gift of life.”
The Heroes Award recipients also received official citations recognizing their achievements signed by Gov. Dan McKee and Lt. Governor Sabina Matos.
