The Upper School hosted the Annual Fall Blood Drive on Oct. 30 for students over the age of 16 in the Blue Dungeon. Eligible students were excited to help, and they felt like they were truly making an impact on patients who were in need of a blood transfusion. 

“I believe that by donating blood, I was helping the cause [of getting resources to people in need], and I felt like I was having an impact on the medical community,” junior Chase Samole said.

The event united students from different grades to achieve a common goal: to save lives. Student volunteers helped organize the blood drive, and staff helped coordinate with the doctors to ensure it was a comfortable experience for students.

“We always try to coordinate it around Valentine’s Day and we always say have a heart and give some blood,” Biomedical Sciences Department Chair Laura Keepax said.

A lot of thought goes behind the blood drive and the next one is already scheduled for February 2026.

“I hope to participate in the upcoming blood drive in February,” sophomore Nicolas Sacerdote said.

Keepax first started organizing the Fall Blood Drive when one of her former teachers, who organized a similar gathering, asked her to uphold the tradition when she was a student. Now, she coordinates this event every school year. According to Keepax, they got a total of 21 donations. 

“We had roughly 40 people show up to donate blood, but 19 of them could not be donated for different reasons,” Keepax said.

Mrs. Keepax is very grateful for the turnout for the first blood drive and is optimistic for an even bigger and better turnout during next year. 

“The greatest gift that you can give to someone is a gift of life, [far more valuable]than money. Hosting a blood drive is an easy way to not just give back to the school, but to give back to our community as a whole,” Keepax said.