The Tippecanoe Valley High School student council will host its final blood drive of the current school year on Tuesday, April 18 from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the high school gymnasium.

The student council hosts four blood drives throughout each school year. The American Red Cross provides scholarship money to students depending on the number of blood donations collected at the blood drive.

Student Council Advisor Crystal Heckaman says the number of donations needed to receive scholarship money might come up short this year because seniors leaving for their senior trip that same evening have been asked not to donate.

“This will cause a significant shortage in the number of donors that we have available and could prevent us from reaching our scholarship fund goal,” said Heckaman.

The blood drive is open to anyone who meets the donor requirements outlined by the American Red Cross. Community members can also donate blood as long as they register before the event. People can register by calling Heckaman at (574) 598-2129 or email [email protected].

“We strongly encourage donors from the community to join us for the blood drive,” she added.

The most recent blood drive hosted by the high school student council on Feb. 3 collected 54 units of blood for the American Red Cross.

According to the American Red Cross, a blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.