Photo courtesy of Karen Berg Lakeview senior Sierra Plotz and her mother, Stacy Plotz, hold up the sign for the American Red Cross/Leaders Save Lives Blood Drive.

COTTONWOOD — College is expensive and winning a scholarship helps pay those bills.

Lakeview High School senior Sierra Plotz recently planned and hosted a blood drive this summer at the Cottonwood Community Center as part of a scholarship project through Leaders Save Lives.

“I was a representative for the Lakeview National Honor Society Blood Drive and the Red Cross representative Cash Huntington told me about the Leaders Save Lives organization and what it offers,” Plotz said. “The scholarship is won by draw, and if my name gets drawn, I would get $1,000.”

There are four scholarships given out in this drawing, she said. Plotz did not know the date of the drawing; however, Huntington said that the winners would be contacted within the next two weeks.

Huntington had brought up the idea of the blood drive to Plotz in April, she said.

“We finalized the event date in May,” she said.

The event was held on Aug. 17 with the American Red Cross and Leaders Save Lives working hand in hand toward their mutual goals.

“We set a date, reserved a location and the Red Cross did the rest,” Plotz said. “They brought everything they needed.”

There were 29 donors, Plotz said, and 31 units of blood were collected.

Hosting a blood drive usually runs on volunteers, and Plotz had hers.

“Regan Jacoby volunteered,” Plotz said. “My mother, Stacy Plotz, and I checked people in and got them food. Regan helped in the cantina, serving donors juice, water and snacks provided by the Red Cross.”

There was also public service announcements to get out prior to the event.

“I used the school’s social media and put posts on Twitter and Facebook,” Plotz said. “I also put it on my personal accounts.

“It was hard making sure I had enough details and materials,” Plotz said, “but I ended up not having to provide a lot for the (phlebotomists).”

Plotz added that she learned that it’s easy to save someone’s life by being involved in a blood drive.

“By hosting this blood drive, 93 people got to see another day,” she said.

“I was unable to give blood that day because of low hemoglobin,” Plotz said, “but I have given twice before at the school.”

Plotz wants people to know that donating blood and/or hosting a drive is very easy and doable by anyone.

“I was glad to be able to do this for my community and am looking for dates to host another one in December,” Plotz said.

“Sierra was very upbeat to work with,” Huntington said. “She is self-motivated and very nice. It was definitely a pleasure to work with her.”