March 2, 2012 - UTI-Avondale blood drive coordinator, America Segura, receives Award of Excellence for Most Productive Blood Drives

Pictured from left to right: Gerardo “Jerry” Gutierrez, Mitchell Peterson, America Segura, Heather Gonzales, Bill Odell, Reine Young, and Audrey Jennings

America Segura, UTI-Avondale’s blood drive coordinator, doesn’t do all of this work for the awards; she does it to save lives. “We roll up our sleeves…it’s just what we do at UTI,” she said upon learning that she would receive the Most Productive Blood Drive Award from America’s Blood Centers (ABC). She accepted the award on behalf of the UTI-Avondale campus students and staff at the United Blood Services (UBS) “Valentines For Life Luncheon,” on Feb. 17, at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort in Phoenix.

Nominated by UBS, America received the prestigious ABC Most Productive Blood Drive Award for the dedication and commitment she shows in helping save lives through blood donations.

Having received many honors in the past from UBS including the Power Red Award, now retired in UTI’s honor, Segura’s passion for volunteering is what keeps her motivated. During the last decade, she has successfully coordinated 19 blood drives and 2,690 donors at the UTI-Avondale campus.

After accepting her award, America posed for pictures with UTI Student Council Vice President Gerardo “Jerry” Gutierrez, UTI Student Council President Mitchell Peterson, UTI Student Services Director Heather Gonzales, UTI VP of Corporate Communications & UBS Community Leadership Council Member Bill Odell, Wells Fargo Vice President & Business Banking Manager Reine Young, and United Blood Services Executive Director Audrey Jennings.

“Awards and accolades are wonderful, but knowing stories of those whose quality of life has improved or whose life has been saved through blood donation motivates me to do more,” said Segura.

The nomination submitted by UBS on behalf of Segura and the Avondale campus specifically recognized that giving back is part of the culture at UTI stating that “student and faculty life is busy with the demanding automotive curriculum, but blood donation is embedded in the campus culture from the top down.”

It is not just the students. The instructors welcome classroom presentations, donor sign-ups and allow students to donate during class periods. The Student Council members also serve as campus ambassadors to promote the blood drives and host an ice cream social once a year to thank donors and inspire others to become donors.

In the words of United Blood Services, “UTI exemplifies the qualities the ABS award honors.” We think so too.  Congratulations!

To learn more about UTI’s commitment to its community click here or visit www.uti.edu.