Hmong College Prep Academy Hosts Blood Drive
Event is Part of the School’s Focus on Service Learning and Community Engagement
St. Paul, MN—Hmong College Prep Academy, Hmong College Prep Academy (HCPA, formerly Hmong Academy), a St. Paul-based K-12 charter school that provides Twin City students with a rigorous college prep curriculum, recently hosted their first annual American Red Cross blood drive.
The drive took place on Friday, January 20th in the school’s gymnasium and featured staff and students from HCPA and the Metro Deaf School. 37 HCPA and 15 Metro Deaf Academy students and numerous staff members rolled up their sleeves and donated 37 pints of blood.
HCPA instructor Eric, “Mr. Z,” Zajkowski’s Social Studies class organized and promoted the blood drive as a service learning project. “Service learning plays a big role in what we do here at HCPA,” stated Mr. Zajkowski. “Plus, our students really enjoy getting out and making a difference in the community. Our blood drive goal was to get 30 pints and it’s a great feeling to have accomplished that mark.”
American Red Cross Blood Drive Coordinator Lindsey Finnegan was impressed with HCPA’s support. “For a first time blood drive, this is very successful. The students really embraced the idea of a blood drive.”
Because more than 30 pints were donated, The American Red Cross will be providing a $250 scholarship to a deserving HCPA senior.
HCPA Senior Pheng Her was the first student in line to donate blood. “I was nervous at first, said Pheng. “Once I saw the teachers giving blood, I became more confident. It feels good now...I had some snacks and saved some lives.”
Senior Sue Xiong echoed her classmate’s sentiments. “Saving people you don’t even know is a wonderful feeling. I didn’t know that you can save up to 3 lives with each pint you donate.” Senior Iaong Lee added, “It’s really great to help other people in our community.”
The blood drive was organized by Senior Mai Moua and a group of 7 students. They were responsible for all components of the drive including educating their peers, marketing and event management. “We selected the blood drive as our project because it benefited the school and community,” stated Mai. “Through this process, we learned so many things...from marketing and publicizing the drive to managing everything that went on during the event. It was hard work, but a lot of fun.”
Mr. Zajkowski added that service learning projects provide students with educational challenges that normally do not take place within a traditional classroom. “For example, students were encouraged to have a ‘persuasive conversation’ with their parents to help educate them as to what a blood drive is all about. It’s this type of interaction that is one of the goals of a service learning project.”
Students in Mr. Zajkowski’s have organized a number of previous service learning projects, including:
• Locks for Love. 14 students contributed their hair to this non-profit that provides hairpieces to children suffering from long-term hair loss. Great Clips provided a stylist to help donors with a new hairstyle.
• Reading Buddies, a program where high school students read weekly with their HCPA 1st grade buddy.
• Raising funds to purchase 75 energy efficient light bulbs for their school.
Hmong College Prep Academy is located at 1515 Brewster Street in St. Paul, just southeast of the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. HCPA provides free tuition, breakfast, lunch and bus transportation for all students. For more information or directions, interested parents and students can call 651-209-8002 or online at www.hmongacademy.org. HCPA is currently enrolling in grades K-12.
