Communication studies students in a senior capstone course at West Virginia University are combining communication studies and sociology classes by initiating a recruitment plan to draw donors to the American Red Cross Blood Donation Drives on June 20 at the WVU Student Recreation Center and July 2 at the WVU Mountainlair.

The students are promoting the blood drives as part of a summer service-learning project that aims to raise awareness in the community. The students have created a media kit complete with a project overview, email contacts, social media strategies and suggestions, and a resource contact list.

“I was really impressed with how quickly they embraced this project. Their enthusiasm for helping out the community and their creativity with the project itself greatly exceeded my expectations,” said Andrea Weber, professor of the course.

Now they need the donors.

Students enrolled in COMM 404, a summer persuasive communication course will set up tables in local “hotspots” around campus where they’ll answer questions and help donors register in advance for the blood drives to avoid long waits.

Students in COMM 100, Principles of Human Communication, and COMM 102, Human Communication in the Interpersonal Context, will assist the persuasive students as well.

An introductory sociology class will execute awareness and recruitment plans for additional blood drives this summer.

The WVU baseball team is onboard to help recruit donors for the drive. The baseball team is back in Morgantown after finishing third in the Big 12 baseball tournament, finishing just one game short of the Big 12 Championship game.

In May, the team was recognized for its efforts in supporting victims of an EF5 tornado that devastated Moore, Okla.

To register to participate in a blood drive, go to http://www.redcrossblood.org/make-donation or come to the July 2 drive at the WVU Mountainlair.

For more information contact Alex Lancaster at 304-293-3905 or allancaster@mix.wvu.edu.

-WVU-

ma/06/06/13

CONTACT: Devon Copeland, Interim Director of Marketing and Communication
304-293-6867, Devon.Copeland@mail.wvu.edu

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