January 26, 2012

Victoria Herring’s sister was hospitalized a few years ago, and the Mississippi College sophomore was thankful that blood donors came to her aid at the time.

This week, Herring, a 19-year-old biology major from Jackson, was among dozens of MC students taking part in a two-day Mississippi Blood Services drive on the Clinton campus.

“I want to help other people,” Herring said moments before giving blood Wednesday at the Alumni Hall lobby. The daughter of a physician, she’s aware of many cancer patients needing blood donations to survive. “It’s definitely a good thing to do.”

On Tuesday, there were 32 units of blood donated at Mississippi College and many more students and others on campus were lined up Wednesday, said Tammy Bouchillon of Mississippi Blood Services. MBS supplies blood and blood products to 49 hospitals around the Magnolia State.

MC expects to conduct a half-dozen blood drives at the Christian university in 2011-2012, up from four a year ago.

Victoria Herring was making her second donation after taking part in an MBS drive last year. A medical career is in her future. She plans to consider entering Mississippi College’s new physician assistant program as one option.

Also making her second blood donation at MC this week was freshman Abby Letson, 18, of Birmingham, Alabama. The elementary education major says giving blood is just a good thing to do for people in need.

Mississippi Blood Services staffers will return to the university for additional drives in early February and late March.

One of the upcoming campaigns in the MBS region will be Barbie Bassett’s Valentine’s Day blood drive. An MC graduate, Bassett is the chief meteorologist at WLBT-TV 3 in Jackson, and an adjunct communications professor at her alma mater in Clinton. Donors will receive T-shirts designed by award-winning “Clarion-Ledger” cartoonist Marshall Ramsey.

For more information, call Mississippi Blood Services offices at 601.981.3232.