The common perception of a high school National Honor Society student is that of the bookworm, with nose glued to the pages, determined to get the best grades possible.
It’s an image that the members of the North Bergen High School NHS would like to completely change.
“It’s more than just academics,” said North Bergen NHS president Karla Salguero. “It’s about being involved in the community. It’s about making a difference. It’s about doing volunteer work and helping people.”
“The NHS is not just about school,” said Peter Kantzilieris, the group’s vice-president. “We get involved in a lot of different functions. We want to be able to help.”
Last week, the North Bergen NHS pooled its talents to sponsor a blood drive to help the always growing need for emergency blood supply.
It marked the second straight year that the NHS worked with the Paramus Community Blood Bank in coordinating the event.
A year ago, the NHS was able to round up 60 members of the school community (students, faculty and administration) to donate a pint of blood. The total was the second highest number of donators that the Paramus Community Blood Bank had for 2001.
Since last year’s donation was such a success, the students wanted to try again.
“We always had high expectations,” Salguero said. “We put up posters promoting the blood drive. We had our seniors tell the other students. The science teachers announced it in their classrooms. More and more people got interested and excited.”
A representative from the Paramus Blood Bank came to the school three weeks ago to educate the students about donating blood. A registered nurse visited the school’s health classes, showing a video and educating the students about the process of blood donation in preparation for the actual event.
“A lot were worried whether they would get dizzy or sick if they gave blood,” Kantzilieris said. “We had to tell them that if they did the right thing, they would be okay.”
According to North Bergen High School vice-principal George Solter, the students who were under 18 needed to have parental permission to donate blood.
“We then scheduled the students to give blood during their physical education periods,” Solter said. “The members of the National Honor Society were there to help register the students, making sure everything ran smoothly.”
The Paramus Blood Bank came with its truck and beds and the impromptu blood bank was set up in the school gymnasium. However, no one could have expected what would transpire next.
“The line was so long and it went on all day,” Solter said. “We were expecting right around the same number we had last year, but that wasn’t the case.”
“People just kept coming down,” said Edward Nepil, the faculty advisor for the NHS. “Everyone was there. Faculty, students, everyone.”
As it turned out, 127 students and faculty members donated blood. Another 40 were slated to donate, but the Paramus Blood Bank will have to reschedule.
“It’s bad that we had to turn some people away, but it’s good that the Blood Bank said that they would come back,” Salguero said. “I’m so excited that we were actually able to do better than last year.”
Nepil said he was impressed with the students’ participation.
“I am so proud of the students,” Nepil said. “It took a lot of work for them to organize it, but they did it.” “The kids ran it and that’s what it’s all about,” Solter said.
Physical education teacher Bob Masella helped to facilitate the day for the students.
“We just tried to do our best, to make sure it was a success,” Kantzilieris said.