Competition inspires creative ways to motivate students to donate life 
HOSA students from across Michigan have added 793 new donors to the Michigan Organ Donor Registry through the Gift of Life HOSA Challenge, a statewide competition to register new organ and tissue donors and inspire support for donation. Michigan HOSA chapters are part of the former Health Occupation Students of America, and the organization is now known as HOSA-Future Health Professionals.
The Gift of Life HOSA Challenge, an organ and tissue donor drive competition, took place from February 11-March 1. For three weeks, students signed up people to the Michigan Organ Donor Registry. Members of the public signed up on the Donor Registry in honor of their local HOSA chapter, scoring a point for that chapter.
In addition to registering new donors, students also encouraged their classmates, teachers and supporters to sign up through various activities and events designed to raise awareness of the importance of organ and tissue donation. Awards will be presented to Anchor Bay High School HOSA, the chapter with the most new donor registrations, and to Lutheran High North HOSA, the chapter with the most activities completed in support of donation.
“We are proud to partner with Michigan HOSA-Future Health Professionals to save and heal lives right here Michigan,” said Dorrie Dils, CEO of Gift of Life Michigan, the state’s organ and tissue recovery program. “The energy and enthusiasm of these students is inspiring. Their leadership and passion for improving health care will ensure a successful Gift of Life HOSA Challenge. Signing up on the Michigan Organ Donor Registry is an easy, quick way to give hope to the 3,200 residents in our state waiting for a life-saving organ transplant, and tens of thousands more who need cornea and tissue transplants to improve the quality of their lives.”
Samantha Pohl, assistant director of Michigan HOSA, added: “With over 7,000 HOSA members spread across the state, this challenge is a fun way to make our organization feel more cohesive, all while spreading awareness of organ donation. We are thankful for this opportunity with Gift of Life and appreciate them taking an interest in future health professionals.”
Winners and participating schools will be recognized at the HOSA State Leadership Conference in Grand Rapids later this month.
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- A full list of participating HOSA chapters, and their scores in the Gift of Life HOSA Challenge, is available at golm.org/hosa.
- Student leaders from each chapter are available for interviews. Please contact Alison Gillum at Gift of Life Michigan, agillum@golm.org or 616-915-0679.
- Gift of Life Michigan is the state’s federally designated organ and tissue recovery program, which acts as intermediary between donors, their families, hospital staff and transplant centers. Gift of Life Michigan, in collaboration with Eversight, provides all services necessary for organ, tissue and eye donation.
