The Official Student News Site of Parkway West High

Pathfinder
The Official Student News Site of Parkway West High

Pathfinder
The Official Student News Site of Parkway West High

Pathfinder
Senior Sadie Burgess squeezes a stress ball as she gets her blood drawn. Burgess was the first student donor of the day for Impact Life’s blood drive. “I'm not good with needles or shots, so giving blood made me a little nervous, but I think I did okay,” Burgess said. “I saved three lives today and I feel like Halloween is a good day to give blood. It's very festive with the vampires and the costumes.”

A scary good cause: West High hosts a schoolwide blood drive on Halloween

Ruthvi Tadakamalla, Editor-In-Chief • November 1, 2024

This Halloween, Oct. 31, the National Honor Society (NHS), Red Cross Club and Key Club came together to organize a schoolwide blood drive. With more than 30 students and staff giving blood, this year’s...

Senior Kylie Secrest volunteers at the blood drive signup table.The table provided students aged 16 and up with information about the drive and assisted them in the signup process. “We decorated the stand in the lunchroom with heart related or red decorations from either Dollar Tree or Five Below,” Secrest said. “This year was my first year doing [the blood drive] and it was fun. I got to be able to meet new people and help out the community.”

What made the Blood Drive

Sakenah Lajkem, Staff Writer • March 6, 2024

On Feb. 28,  Key Club and National Honors Society teamed up for the Parkway West blood drive. The two clubs spent months setting up and planning for the event, from making posters, to contacting Impact...

Manning the check-in table with junior and fellow National Honors Society (NHS) member Rachel Livak, senior and President of NHS Nikita Bhaskar, prepare for more incoming blood donors. This was Bhaskar’s first time donating blood. “When I signed up, I was excited to be able to donate blood. But, the day of, I was getting more nervous as my time slot came. But, all the volunteers and my friends were supportive and keeping everyone distracted, so it was really easy [and] painless,” Bhaskar said.

A Blood Drive Not in Vein

Grace Loethen, Staff Writer • April 13, 2023

With Bad Blood by Taylor Swift playing from English teacher Erin Fluchel’s blood playlist, about 63 students and a few adults lined up to donate blood. Students were patient as they awaited their turn...

After three months of preparation for the first annual blood drive, National Honor Society (NHS) President and senior Nikita Bhaskar lays in one of the stretchers holding senior Jame Wild’s hand as she donates blood. The blood drive gathered 61 bags of blood to donate to ImpactLife. “I loved seeing the NHS volunteers shine. Katie Jauss, Jame Wild and [senior] Adam Lancia choreographed dances to perform in front of the donors to distract them, and it genuinely brightened the event. They let their personalities shine to help others, and I felt that's what NHS is all about. It was inspiring to see,” Bhaskar said. “Knowing that I could save three lives by donating a pint of my blood made it a no-brainer; donating was an easy choice."

Photo of the Week – March 31

Elle Rotter, Deputy Conceptual Editor-in-Chief • March 31, 2023

NHS members wear red to support and promote blood donations. NHS sponsor and English teacher Erin Fluchel helped student members organize the event. “[Donating blood] is a really small thing that can make a big difference. It can impact people that you don't necessarily know. You don't see the immediate impact, but it can be really powerful,” Fluchel said.

NHS hosts blood drive to aid St. Louis community

Ashlyn Gillespie, Deputy Managing Editor-in-Chief • March 6, 2023

People’s rationale for donating blood varies: they think it’s the right thing to do, as a means to get out of class, their parents made the suggestion or they have seen the direct impacts. ImpactLife...

Red Cross Club, founded by senior Harjeev Singh, is hosting the first blood drive in over two decades at school. Singh had been planning this event since the end of last year with hopes to positively impact the community. “With this club, we hope to save lives and provide an outlet for those who have a nurturing heart,” Singh said.

Red Cross Club hosts first blood drive in more than two decades

Nayeon Ryu, Video Editor • October 3, 2019

Heart beating and blood pumping, senior Harjeev Singh submits his request for a new school event: a blood drive. Since the end of his junior year, Singh has worked to establish the Red Cross Club and organize...