NOC students, staff donate blood

Ponca City sophomore Nick Bocanegra was one of 71 NOC students and staff that donated blood last Thursday. (photo by John Pickard/Northern Oklahoma College)

TONKAWA —  Northern Oklahoma students, faculty, and staff donated 59 pints of whole blood and 12 pints of double red cells for a total of 71 donations at the Oklahoma Blood Institute Blood Drive Thursday at the Kinzer Performing Arts Center.

The OBI nearly made their goal, which was a total of 74 pints of whole blood and 12 pints of double red blood cells, according to Kim Stouffer, OBI Mobile  Supervisor.

NOC students, faculty, and staff also had the opportunity to register for the “Be the Match,” an OBI program that registers tissue types, providing a data base matching suitable tissue donators with recipients.

Ponca City sophomore Nick Bocanegra said he was donating for the first time.

“I had some extra time between classes and I think it’s important to help,” he said.  “You never know who is going to need it.”

Tonkawa High School senior Ryan Schatz, taking concurrent classes at NOC, was donating for the second time.

“It’s important to help,” she said.

The OBI recently sent 700 pints of blood to the Houston area.  The blood donated Thursday will be used in the Enid area or wherever blood is needed.

Stouffer said that 86 donors signed in, but 15 were deferred.