A blood drive hosted by the Tippecanoe Valley High School Student Council on Friday, Feb. 3, collected 54 units of blood for the American Red Cross.

A total of 74 donors showed up to donate, but 20 were deferred for various reasons, mostly low iron or illness.

In all, 54 units of blood were collected; the same amount collected at the Dec. 2 blood drive. This was the third of four blood drives the high school student council hosts throughout the school year.

The American Red Cross provides scholarship money to students depending on the number of blood donations collected at the blood drives.

The student council needs more than 200 units of blood for the year to reach the top scholarship goal of $2,500. Student Council Advisor Crystal Heckaman said 152 units have been collected so far this year.

The final blood drive for the current school year will take place sometime in April, but a definite date has not yet been set.

The blood drives are also open to community members who meet the donor requirements outlined by the American Red Cross.

Photo: TVHS senior Braydon Ott sits holding and staring at a pint of blood he just donated.