Information provided by Jennifer Lourie, American Red Cross

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Now in its fifth year, the Red Cross /NAIA Collegiate Leadership Program continues to inspire, motivate and create a new and diverse generation of Red Cross volunteers and leaders through exemplifying the five core values of the NAIA Champions of Character program.  These core values are integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship, and servant leadership. 

As part of its support of Red Cross diversity initiatives, State Farm Insurance is sponsoring this partnership. The program kicks off with two weeks of energetic training at Red Cross National Headquarters located in Washington, D.C. from June 6 to June 17.

During their time in Washington, DC, the 2011-12 class will participate in a rare and unique opportunity to acquire first-hand coaching, mentoring and professional leadership training presented by senior leadership at the Red Cross, one of the nation’s largest non-profit organizations.

Student-athletes will also learn from civic and business leaders how to uncover their leadership potential off the field. In addition to leadership training, the students will learn how to organize successful campus blood drives and take part in diversity and cultural competency training.  For their efforts, students will receive scholarship support provided by the Red Cross and State Farm Insurance.

“Athletics play such an important role in creating a sense of community on college campuses. The partnership with the NAIA has created a rich opportunity to connect campus communities with the life saving mission of the Red Cross through the energy of NAIA student-athletes,” said Brian Hamil, Red Cross National Chair Biomedical Services.  “As we enter our fifth year of the program, we remain grateful for the continuing financial support of State Farm Insurance.”

“I would like to thank the Red Cross and State Farm Insurance for providing a wonderful opportunity for NAIA student-athletes. This is the fifth year for the program and Brian Hamil and his team are not only great partners but tremendous advocates for character-driven intercollegiate athletics,” said NAIA President and CEO Jim Carr.  “The work being done on campuses throughout the country as a result of this program not only saves lives but has a huge impact on these young men and women.”

The program is part of a larger Red Cross diversity strategy for moving the Red Cross from awareness to action, building Red Cross capacity to serve all Americans.

Meet the 2011-12 Class. Student-athletes will be in Washington, DC, June 6-17.

Rachel Blonski, Carlow University (Pa.), Greater Alleghenies Blood Region
Rachel Blonski will be a junior in the fall.  In high school she was co-captain of the varsity softball and volleyball teams, a 3 year letter winner and 2 year letter winner respectively.  She was a member of the National Honors Society, the Pride Committee, the Prom Committee, an officer of the Lookin’ Out Committee (promoting safe driving habits of high school students), a mentor for the Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Beaver Country program, a member of the Junior Class Committee, yearbook co-editor, and president of the Senior Class Committee.  At Carlow University Rachel is involved in multiple organizations on campus and excels in her studies.  She holds many executive positions in her extracurricular organizations, and she was a member of the Dean’s List her freshmen year.  Rachel is a dedicated and hardworking individual that gives one hundred percent in everything she sets out to do.

Winston Davenport, Azusa Pacific University (Calif.), Southern California Blood Region
Winston was born in Portland, Oregon and grew up in Vancouver, Washington.  He played sports his whole life, predominantly baseball and golf.  He will be a junior in the fall and is majoring in athletic training and minoring in Spanish.  With his busy schedule, Winston has developed a strong work ethic that complements his competitive nature.  He continues his athletic lifestyle by his exercise regiment and sports with his friends.  As a college student he can’t donate money but is inspired by the fact that giving blood is the easiest way to make a difference in someone’s life.

Jazmine Green, Fisk University (Tenn.), Tennessee Valley Blood Region
In high school Jazmine was nominated to various honor societies and also had the opportunity to play on a national volleyball team with which she travelled all over the country.  In volleyball, she is an achiever of leadership and excellence.  In high school, she was the defensive captain of her varsity team, captain of her junior varsity team, and was also awarded the Most Valuable Player and Best Defensive Player.  On top of being accepted to the school of her choice, she was able to continue playing volleyball for Fisk University.  While on the team, she earned her spot as Co-Captain, was elected Business Manager, and inducted into the Nursing Club.  Throughout her life, Jazmine has learned a plethora of leadership skills that will carry her through life, especially as a nursing major, aspiring to be a Certified Nurse-Midwife and a Nurse Practitioner.

Caitie Cunningham, Auburn University Montgomery (Ala.), Alabama & Central Gulf Coast Blood Region
Originally from Tennessee, Caitie will be a junior at Auburn University Montgomery where her older sister also attends. Caitie played varsity basketball all four years in high school while maintaining a 3.92 GPA and was a member of the National Beta Club, Secretary of the National Honor Society, and a Group Leader of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.  She was also elected the 2009-2010 Basketball Homecoming Queen and received the Citizen’s Bank Citizenship Award.  She attends AUM on a basketball scholarship and is pursuing a collaborative degree in Elementary-Special Education.

Hannah Martin, Central Christian College of Kansas, Central Plains Blood Region
Hannah was born and raised in Eugene, Missouri where she was active in the National FFA Organization, Future Business Leaders of America, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Ragdolls Pep Club.  After graduating from high school she attended Linn State Technical College where she studied Commercial Turf and Grounds Management.  Hannah was in the Post-Secondary Agriculture Students Organization (PAS) and she was the State Secretary for the PAS Organization and then the Chapter President on campus.  Hannah graduated with her Associates of Applied Science in Commercial Turf and Grounds Management in May of 2010 and transferred to Central Christian College of Kansas.  Now she is studying sports management and playing softball.  She is involved in Student Activities Committee (SAC) and Students Taking on Radical Ministries (STORM).

Stephanie Belokon, Judson University (Ill.), Heart of America Blood Region
Stephanie believes that everything in life happens for a reason and how we handle these situations shows our true character.  She will be a junior at Judson University and she is on the cross country and track team.  Stephanie loves that running is mentally tough and she believes it is great to have a challenge.  Her major is elementary education with a minor in ESL. Stephanie really enjoys getting to know others and people from different cultures.  It is a dream of hers to teach in another country and to travel the world. Stephanie grew up in Illinois and she has a strong support system from her family and friends. She goal driven and very excited for the rest of her years at Judson.

Genevieve Benson, Grace College (Ind.), Indiana-Ohio Blood Region
Genevieve will be a senior at Grace College.  She is majoring in sports management with a minor in business administration and she is on the softball team.  Genevieve is from Egg Harbor City, New Jersey.  She is pursuing a career in sports management because she wants to be involved in the behind the scenes aspects of sporting events to help make them enjoyable for those attending.  Genevieve is currently the campus coordinator for blood drives on campus through the Indiana-Ohio Region Pilot Program of the Red Cross/NAIA Collegiate Leadership Program.

Cameron Mettenbrink, Hastings College (Neb.), Midwest Blood Region
Cameron will be a sophomore at Hastings College and is a Nebraska native. At Hastings he was originally studying business administration, but now he is experimenting with education. Cameron enjoys working with people and always appreciates meeting someone new. He is on the wrestling team as the varsity 133 pound wrestler. Cameron feels that wrestling is a very grueling sport that requires a lot of mental toughness which he thinks is why he deals well with stressful situations.

Cassandra Kramer, Spring Arbor University (Mich.), Great Lakes Blood Region
Cassandra will be a senior at Spring Arbor University with a major in business administration and a minor in advertising and public relations. She plays volleyball in addition to being an SAU Presidential Ambassador, a member of SIFE (Students in Free Enterprise), co-founder of a Young Professional Group in Jackson, a member of JCEG (Jackson Citizens for Economic Growth), and a representative for the Gainey School of Business, all while maintaining a 4.0 GPA. She has interned with the Red Cross for the last three years, hosting multiple blood drives in her area and she is a volunteer ambassador for the National Bone Marrow Registry. Cassandra enjoys traveling, hunting, fishing, playing sports, and spending time at the lake.

Whitney Sweet, Taylor University (Ind.), Indiana-Ohio Blood Region
Whitney Sweet will be a junior at Taylor University where she plays volleyball. Whitney’s first exposure to the Red Cross was when her high school volleyball team sponsored a blood drive and she was encouraged to donate by her coach. Now, she is a psychology and early childhood education major and is planning to graduate in the spring of 2013.  She chose Taylor because of the wonderful team chemistry and when she graduates she hopes to teach kindergarten and also coach.

Lauren Buckles, Ottawa University (Kan.), Central Plains Blood Region
Lauren will be a junior and she participates in both basketball and track and field.  She appeared in 15 games off the bench for the Lady Braves in her first collegiate basketball season. She averaged two points and one rebound per game. Buckles played a career high 12 minutes, scored a career high nine points, and made a career high three field goals. In track and field, she had a solid first year throwing the javelin. She is actively involved in campus ministries and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Lauren’s mission trips have taken her to the food banks and soup kitchens of San Antonio, Texas and a South Dakota Indian reservation. She is pursuing her undergraduate degree in elementary education.

Julie Teeple, Columbia College (Mo.), Missouri-Illinois Blood Region
Julie is an active member in student organizations and was the only two-sport student-athlete the Cougars have had in decades.  Julie was a starting outside hitter for the Cougar volleyball team that finished the year with a 41-5 record and held the regular-season and conference tournament crowns. She helped lead the Lady Cougars basketball squad that same year to a national tournament appearance and a 29-5 record. During her sophomore season she unfortunately suffered a stress fracture in her leg and was unable to play in the final matches of the season. Despite her injury Julie continued to attend every practice and contest for the remainder of the season. After re-injuring her leg, and having to sit out of the next volleyball season, Julie found other ways to get involved by joining the student government association and volunteering whenever and wherever she can. 

Devon Golden, Georgetown College (Ky.), River Valley Blood Region
Devon will be a junior at Georgetown College in Georgetown, Kentucky. She is from Wapakoneta, Ohio, a relatively small town in Northwest Ohio. While in high school, Devon participated in sports among many other activities ranging from class president to various volunteer organizations. After being recruited by Georgetown, Devon decided that she would give Kentucky a shot for her college education. As of now, Devon’s plans are to attend law school, specifically for corporate law, after graduation.

Randon McNeil, Mount Vernon Nazarene University (Ohio), Central Ohio Blood Region
Randon is from Springfield, Ohio. In high school he participated in golf, basketball, and baseball all four years.  He was also a member of the symphonic and show choirs for four years and he joined the Leo Club, an organization created for the purpose of having volunteers ready for community service. This club enabled him to serve in a variety of areas such as youth baseball camps, various fundraising dinners, and his school blood drives. At MVNU he is a member of the varsity golf team and is also vice president of the College Republicans Club. He is pursuing a major in marketing and two minors in sports management and applied business technology. Randon would love to pursue a career in sports business after college in the areas of human relations or operations management.

Katie McLintock (Graduate, 2009 Class Participant, 2010 and 2011 Class Mentor), Westminster College (Utah)
In 2009 Katie was selected to participate in the Red Cross / NAIA Collegiate Leadership Program. She jumped in with both feet and grew to love the Red Cross, her student peers, and the people she was able to meet and associate with because of her involvement in the program. Katie became a member of the Lewis and Clark Blood Services Region board of directors. Her first year in the program, Katie coordinated three successful blood drives on her campus. The following year she was invited to return to Washington, D.C. to mentor and train the 2010 class. Later that year, she was the recipient of the Clara Barton Award. In December 2010 Katie graduated from Westminster College with a BS Marketing. She has continued her interest, service, and love for the Red Cross which brings her back once again to welcome the class of 2011!

Program results:
Last year’s class (2010):
•               4 new campus communities sponsored Red Cross blood drives
•               6 campus communities with existing Red Cross blood drives
•               877 first-time blood donors
•               77% increase in units collected

Since the Program started (2007 thru 2010):
•               14 new campus communities are sponsoring Red Cross blood drives
•               42 colleges/universities sponsoring Red Cross blood drives
•               Over 8,500 first-time blood donors
•               74% increase in units collected

What will the 2011 class accomplish?

About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and counsels victims of disasters; provides nearly half of the nation’s blood supply; teaches lifesaving skills; and supports military members and their families. The American Red Cross is a charity, not a government agency, and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its humanitarian mission.

About State Farm
State Farm insures more cars and homes than any other insurer in the U.S., is the leading insurer of watercraft and is also a leading insurer in Canada. State Farm’s 17,000 agents and 67,000 employees serve over 77 million auto, fire, life and health policies in the United States and Canada, and more than 1.9 million bank accounts. State Farm’s mission is to help people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected, and realize their dreams.

About the NAIA
The NAIA’s Champions of Character program is designed to instill an understanding of character value in sport, and provide student-athletes, coaches and parents the training to help them know and do the right things, inside and outside the sports setting. The program is dedicated to the principle that character is a choice and that being a champion is about reaching your potential and making good decisions consistently in daily life.