Red Cord Honors Program
 |
Recognizing High School Blood Donors & Volunteers |
Student Information
The Red Cord Honors Program is designed to recognize students who have made the choice to participate in the life-saving act of blood donation at least seven(7) times with the American Red Cross during their high school career. The American Red Cross will award students in the Red Cord Honors Program with a red honor cord that they may wear during their high school graduation activities with their school’s permission.
Any student at a participating high school holding a Red Cross blood drive is eligible to participate in the Red Cord Honors Program. Ask your school advisor if your school is participating in the Red Cord program. If so, get started earning your cord by signing up to donate or arranging to volunteer at the next drive.
Eligible students must donate seven(7) times during their high school career. Students ineligible to donate blood due to age, weight or medical restrictions may be eligible by actively participating as a volunteer with their high school’s blood drive or another blood drive in the community during their high school career. The school’s Red Cross representative will work with each school or school advisor to track participation, identify and recognize eligible students prior to graduation so they may proudly wear the red honor cord during their graduation ceremony.
Benefits to YOU, the student:
- Provides opportunities to volunteer, either through donating blood or time, which can be used on scholarship and/or job applications
- Provides opportunities to gain leadership experience by sponsoring and coordinating a blood drive at your school
- Provides good feeling that comes from helping save lives and helping others
- Partner with a non-profit organization to achieve goals and support your community
- Allows students to receive recognition for their voluntary contributions
- Provides opportunity to lead by example
How the program works:
- Tracking cards and informational brochures will be available from the school advisor and at check in during school sponsored blood drives.
- Keep this tracking card until you fulfill the requirements of the Red Cord Honors Program.
- Have an American Red Cross staff member or blood drive advisor date and initial your tracking card every time you donate blood or volunteer for 2 hours at an American Red Cross Blood Drive.
- You will turn the completed tracking card into the school advisor by established timelines of your graduating year.
- The advisor will compile a list of students that have earned the award and forward it to their American Red Cross Representative.
- The American Red Cross Representative will deliver the cords earned to school’s sponsor to be presented to students before graduation ceremonies occur.
- You will be able to wear your Red Honor Cord during your graduation ceremony or a school-sponsored awards ceremony.
