ELLISVILLE – Jones College’s 2024 blood drive efforts earned the top three awards of all higher education institutions by the blood service, Vitalant for collecting the most units of blood during the year. At the Blood Drive Coordinator & Milestone Donors Awards Luncheon held in Hattiesburg recently, Jones College’s three donation sites, the Student Union & Thoms P.E. Building coordinated by Dr. Benji Sessums, the Industrial Services Center coordinated by Brad Harrison, and the Jasper County Center in Bay Springs coordinated by Lisa Hammons collected a total of 179 units of blood during two blood drives at each site. The college earned first, second and third place plaques of appreciation at the banquet, however, Harrison said this was actually like winning an Olympic Gold Medal.
“To me, this is like winning the Olympics or the Super Bowl because giving blood saves lives,” said Harrison. “Nothing else could be more important than helping your fellow man and it is rewarding to be able to help so many people by providing a service every fall and spring.”
Vitalant Account Manager, Michelle Anderson-Jones said Jones College is the only college in the state that has a tremendous number of donors who regularly give.
“Jones College is a life changing institution,” said Anderson-Jones. “They always find a way to take care of our community by not only providing excellent educational and vocational opportunities but by also fostering a generation of lifelong blood donors, year after year!”
Over the last 20 years, Jones College has hosted 173 blood drives and has collected 14,169 units of blood.
