Sept. 16, 2024 — The American Red Cross has awarded Brush High School graduate Meredith Davis Cooper a $5,000 scholarship for her efforts to recruit diverse blood donors and raise awareness about sickle cell disease through blood drives during the 2023-2024 school year. Brush High School was one of the top 10 schools in the country that collected the most units from African American students and qualified to receive the scholarship.
As National Honor Society president, Meredith collaborated with Jill Stranic and Sallie Fine, Brush High School teachers and National Honor Society advisors to promote the blood program at the school. She helped recruit blood donors for three blood drives and donated blood herself. She also encouraged fellow students to give by educating them on the need for more diverse blood donors for sickle cell patients.
“She was an excellent student and leader,” said Stranic. “By stepping up and donating blood herself, she took ownership and was a great ambassador for the process.”
Meredith is currently studying architecture at Kent State University and hopes to one day own her own firm. She said the scholarship was a “shocking surprise” and she is extremely grateful.
The Red Cross Sickle Cell Fighter Scholarship Program aims to empower youth to help patients with sickle cell disease by rewarding schools that successfully collect blood from Black donors, helping sickle cell patients by diversifying the blood supply.
About 100,000 people in the U.S., most of whom are of African descent, are living with sickle cell disease – the most common inherited blood disorder in the country. Blood transfusion helps patients by increasing the number of normal red blood cells in the body, helping to deliver oxygen and unblock blood vessels.
The Red Cross continues to have a critical need for blood products to ensure patient care. Donors of all blood types are urged to give now to keep blood supply levels rising after a summer shortage. To make an appointment or to learn more, download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767)