Contact: David West (west@alpha.nsula.edu )
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

1/11/2001

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES - Northwestern State University is working to help one of its own later this month. The Friedman Student Union at NSU will sponsor a blood drive to benefit Northwestern student Jennifer McCalister Thursday, Jan. 25 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. The drive will be held in from of the Student Union. The drive is open to NSU students, faculty, staff, alumni and members of the community. LifeShare Blood Center is handling the collection. A blood drive will also be held at NSU's College of Nursing located at 1800 Line Avenue in Shreveport. The drive will be Monday, Jan. 22 from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. in the atrium of the Nursing Education Center.

McCalister, a freshman at Northwestern, was diagnosed with a rare blood disease during the holidays. As part of her treatment, she receives 17 units of plasma every other day. Each treatment takes approximately four hours. She will not be able to take classes this semester, but plans to return to Northwestern as soon as possible.

NSU Director of Student Activities and Organizations Carl P. Henry III taught McCalister in a student orientation class last fall and read about her condition in a story in the Shreveport Times.

"We work with students and interact with them each day, so it is natural for us to help them in any way we can," said Henry. "That's part of being at Northwestern."

Henry is working with Assistant Directors of Student Activities and Organizations Susanna Deshotel and David Deggs to make students aware of the blood drive.

"The students have been very enthusiastic about getting involved to help," said Deshotel. "We are asking them to spread the word and get as many people as possible to donate."

Northwestern alumni in Shreveport and Alexandria can help McCalister by making a donation at LifeShare Blood Center in McCalister's name.

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