Members of the Health Occupations Students of America club at Copper Hills High School

 

During the holiday season, the spirit of giving takes on a new, lifesaving meaning at Copper Hills High School. The dedicated members of the Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) club have stepped up to help ensure there is a stable blood supply for patients in need across Utah through their annual holiday blood drive with ARUP Blood Services.

For years, Copper Hills High School in West Jordan has been one of ARUP Blood Services’ most committed high school partners. In spring 2024, students, faculty members, and community volunteers came together at a blood drive that recorded nearly 247 registered donors and collected 170 units of blood, making it one of the high school’s most successful drives to date. Blood drives like these play a vital role in helping ARUP collect the 2,200 units of whole blood needed each month to support patients at University of Utah Hospitals and Clinics and the Huntsman Cancer Institute.

On December 18, 2025, the HOSA club hosted its annual Christmas Blood Drive and set an ambitious goal to have 300 donors register, a milestone that would have a significant impact during a time when blood donations are critically needed. Over the winter holidays, donations often decline even as the patient need for blood products remains constant. Every unit collected by ARUP Blood Services goes directly to patients in Utah, ensuring that lifesaving transfusions are available for those experiencing trauma, undergoing surgery, receiving oncology treatments, and living with chronic illnesses.

What makes the Copper Hills blood drive truly special is its inclusivity. In addition to inviting students and staff members to donate, HOSA leaders also encourage parents, families, and community members to join in donating. By expanding participation beyond the student body, Copper Hills displays a powerful model of community engagement, one that embodies both the holiday ethos and HOSA’s mission to empower future health professionals who lead by example.

The dedication of HOSA club participants at Copper Hills reflects a larger collaboration between ARUP Blood Services and student volunteers statewide. High school blood drives like theirs not only contribute crucial units of lifesaving blood but also inspire a habit of lifelong donation. Students at Copper Hills embrace this responsibility—HOSA members express pride in contributing to a cause that reaches far beyond their campus walls.

We are grateful for the impact Copper Hills students have made this holiday season. Their Christmas Blood Drive collected 165 units of whole blood, which were then processed into as many as 495 separate blood products.

Together, the HOSA club at Copper Hills High School and ARUP Blood Services are helping ensure each holiday season is brighter for those in need.

January 9, 2026