KANSAS CITY, Mo. - University of Michigan-Dearborn junior Kelly Dankert Concordia University (Ore.) senior Rachel Cotter will receive $2000 scholarship checks from State Farm as part of its support of American Red Cross (ARC) diversity initiatives and the ARC-National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Youth Leadership Program. Cotter and Dankert and nine other NAIA student-athletes completed a two week internship at the American Red Cross headquarters in Washington, D.C. this past summer and currently serve as Red Cross ambassadors on their campuses and in their local communities connecting a new generation of volunteers and leaders.

Dankert ia a competitor for the University of Michigan-Dearborn volleyball team and plans to graduate in 2009 with a degree in history and dreams of working at the Henry Ford Museum as a historian. She was thrilled to participate in the ARC-NAIA Youth Leadership Program and have the opportunity to represent her university and team.

A scholarship check presentation for Dankert took place on Friday, January 18, 2008, at the volleyball team banquet at Kochoff Hall beginning at 7:30 p.m. University of Michigan-Dearborn Athletics Director Steve Rotta, CEO of the South Eastern Region for the American Red Cross Diane Ward and American Red Cross representative Dr. Brad Eisenbrey were at the event to present the scholarship award.  

"This program highlights the importance of bringing youth representation to our advisory boards and allowing them to have an influence. Diversity is not important if you can't leverage it," said Brian Hamil, National Chair for Biomedical Services at the American Red Cross. "The opportunity for these students to sit on advisory boards is a "best practices" model demonstrating that we are leveraging, valuing and integrating diversity. This is a true model of inclusion."

Cotter and Dankert join other NAIA student-athletes from across the country for the inaugural year of the ARC-NAIA Youth Leadership Program. As part of their responsibilities as elite members of the class, Cotter and Dankert will organize successful blood drive campaigns, sit of the American Red Cross leadership board and complete diversity and cultural competency training throughout the year.

Cotter and Dankert are part of an initiative for a new generation of Red Cross leaders and part of a strategy to move the American Red Cross from awareness to action. ARC-NAIA Youth Leadership Program participants are an example of today's youth embracing volunteerism and community service. These two young ladies will have an enormous impact on the Concordia and Michigan-Dearborn campuses and communities serviced by the Pacific Northwest and Southeastern Michigan Blood Regions. NAIA student-athlete's contribution to the program increases the age diversity in the American Red Cross, celebrates the shared vision of servant leadership between the ARC and NAIA and provides an opportunity to develop leaders of tomorrow.

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To learn more about the ARC-NAIA Youth Leadership Program contact Staci Schottman, NAIA Director of Public Relations and Communications, at 816-595-8116 or sschottman@naia.org.

Congratulations to senior Renee Laidler who was named to the NAIA All American - second team today, recognizing her as one of the top 24 players in NAIA volleyball this year. A well-deserved award for one of the best success stories the history of Michigan-Dearborn Athletics.