Southern Technical College Honors the Memory of Graduate With Community Blood Drive

Orlando, FL – (June 22, 2016) – With heavy hearts, the Orlando campus of Southern Technical College, “Southern Tech,” participated in a community blood drive June 20th in memory of a recent graduate who was among those killed in the tragic shootings at Pulse nightclub in Orlando.

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Pictured above, 19-year-old Jason Benjamin Josaphat was among 49 victims from the Pulse incident, which has been called one of the worst mass shootings in U.S. history.

“This blood drive, done in memory of Jason Josaphat, held special meaning as students, faculty and staff members came together to donate,” said Martin Levert, executive director, Southern Tech-Orlando. “It tremendously helped our campus with the healing process as we continue to grieve the loss of this young professional who passed away far too soon due to this senseless tragedy that rocked the nation.”

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Levert, above, pictured with OneBlood’s Donesha Anthony, said he was proud that more than 40 units of blood were collected at the event.

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Among the Southern Tech students who gave blood were, left to right, Michelle Fort and Romilia Nauzinor pictured with Levert.

Josaphat, an exceptional student, had recently graduated from the business office specialist program. Levert presented family members with posthumous president’s awards from Southern Tech. “It was a very emotional and prideful day for myself, our staff and our students,” he added.

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OneBlood, the local blood bank, which has seen a huge outpouring of donations in wake of the tragedy, conducted the blood drive. The mobile blood bus came to Southern Tech-Orlando located at 1485 Florida Mall Ave. near the Florida Mall.

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About Southern Technical College (southerntech.edu)

Founded in 2000, Southern Technical College is a career education school dedicated to providing students with the best possible career training and education in a student-centered environment. It was founded to combine traditional and job-practical teaching techniques in the areas of allied health sciences and applied technology. Delivered in a dynamic and professional environment, the curricula are designed to deliver intensive, hands-on training in core technical areas in combination with communication skills, interpersonal skills and a broad-based general education. Southern Tech is licensed by the Florida Commission for Independent Education (CIE) and is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS). Associate degrees in Surgical Technician at the Fort Myers, Tampa and Port Charlotte campuses are accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES), and the Health Information Management associate degree program at the Fort Myers campus is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).

About OneBlood (oneblood.org)

Generally healthy people age 16 or older who weigh at least 110 pounds can donate blood. Photo ID is required. To learn more about the importance of blood donation and how donors can target the power of their blood type visit oneblood.org. All donors receive a wellness checkup of blood pressure, pulse, temperature and iron count, including a cholesterol screening, plus a surprise gift. One of three people will need blood in their lifetime. Blood that is donated today will likely be transfused within two to three days. The turn-around is that fast, the need is constant.