Lutheran North HOSA students are competing in a statewide challenge along with 13 other Michigan HOSA chapters to register new organ and tissue donors and inspire support for donation. 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, runs today through November 22. For the next three weeks, students are signing up people to the Michigan Organ Donor Registry. Members of the public can sign up on the Donor Registry in honor of Lutheran High North’s HOSA Chapter, scoring a point for the chapter.

In addition to registering new donors, students will also encourage 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. At the end of the competition, awards will be presented to the chapter with the most new donor registrations and to 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. Last year they registered 816 new donors in three weeks! Their efforts give hope to the nearly 3,000 residents in our state waiting for life-saving organ transplants.”

“This is a wonderful opportunity to bring the members of our LHN HOSA Chapter together,” said Nicole Mandziara, LHN HOSA Advisor. “We competed in this challenge last year and signed up 143 new donors which earned us second place in the competition. We would like to double that number this year and come in first place. Regardless if we win or lose the competition, if we sign up one new donor, we’ve given someone the gift of life and that’s a win-win for everyone!”

Samantha Pohl, assistant director of Michigan HOSA, added: “With over 7,000 HOSA members spread across the state, this challenge will be 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.”