High school students and educators across JSD proved that community impact starts right in the classroom. Through a partnership with ARUP Laboratories, every high school in JSD hosted at least one blood drive during the 2025-26 school year. In total, JSD HOSA (Future Health Professionals) programs organized 16 blood drives, rallying students, staff, and community members to donate life-saving blood. The collective effort yielded an incredible 1,226 units of donated blood, demonstrating the immense power of student-driven community service.

The true weight of these drives is measured in the lives changed, as a single unit of blood can support up to three patients in need. Because of dedicated JSD high schoolers, as many as 3,678 patients facing critical conditions at the Huntsman Cancer Institute and other Utah hospitals will receive life-saving treatments. The year was defined by historic milestones: Copper Hills High led the way with four drives collecting 610 units—outperforming every other sponsor collection drive ARUP works with. Meanwhile, Herriman High broke its own donation record three consecutive times, and Mountain Ridge High achieved a monumental school record in December by collecting 59 units in a single drive.

This remarkable achievement cements Jordan School District’s standing as one of only two districts in which every high school actively sponsors blood drives. Beyond the numbers, the success of these events relies heavily on the passion of educators who champion students as mentors and coordinators.

ARUP wants to express its gratitude to the incredible teachers who made this year’s life-saving blood drives possible: Taunia Bean, Cynthia Cox, Madison Jenkins, Eva Peterson, Jenifer Glassey, Todd Egbert, Buffy Blunk, Trudy Pecorelli, Tiffani Holmes, and Cami Petersen. Thank you to everyone who helped make the blood drives a huge success.

Congratulations to Herriman High School’s Jessica Smiley, Isla Homer, and Livia Hanson for winning big at the DECA 2026 International Career Development Conference. The trio of sophomores took home first place in Business Services Operations Research at the national competition in Atlanta, Georgia.

The students partnered with Utah’s Department of Corrections and Department of Government Operations to research the viability of converting the Utah State Correctional Facility to solar power with a state-of-the-art storage system using converted EV batteries from the state’s fleet. The team worked with experts from around the state to research the viability of the concept, prepare a realistic budget, and develop a proposal for training incarcerated persons as solar technicians to assist with both installation and system maintenance. The project not only got the attention of DECA, but the state of Utah also made all three students interns, and will include the project in the state’s annual report.

Great work, Jessica, Isla, Livia, and Herriman High teacher Rickee Stewart, on an impressive project!