SUNY Canton Student Receives Red Cross Scholarship

The student volunteer who helped orchestrate SUNY Canton’s blood drives has been selected to receive a scholarship from the American Red Cross.

Simone N. Moultrie of the Bronx recently received notification that she had won the SUNY Challenge Scholarship Award for $2,500. Moultrie just graduated from the college’s two-year Liberal Arts – General Studies program and will be continuing on in the Early Childhood program.

“In addition to volunteering her own time, Simone recruited others to help staff the drive and encouraged new blood donors,” said Farren C. Lobdell, director of wellness promotions at SUNY Canton. “She helped us meet our goals at the college.”

Over the past year, the college recorded 229 donations which can be used to save as many as 687 lives, using the Red Cross estimate that one unit of blood can save up to three lives. The college typically holds four blood drives each year.

Moultrie said she was very appreciative of the funding and was excited to receive her first scholarship to attend college. She became involved with the Red Cross blood drives by volunteering through her Greek organization, Beta Sigma Zeta Sorority, Inc. Many of her sisters assisted with her efforts. She plans to continue volunteering in the future.

“When my friends ask me what they can do to help others, I tell them to donate blood,” Moultrie said. “If our blood can help people, it’s the best donation that we can give.”

In recent years, SUNY Canton has hosted 82 drives collecting 3,878 units, saving up to 11,634 lives.

The Red Cross is still holding drives and urgently needs donors. Drives can be found at redcrossblood.org and the donor app, which allows donors to track their blood and see which hospital used it.