Sumter High Speech & Debate blood drive collects 69 units of blood

The Sumter High School Speech & Debate Team partnered with The Blood Connection on Tuesday, Sept. 1, to host a community blood drive that brought together students, staff, families and community members, who raised a total of 69 units of blood to support local patients.

The drive attracted 84 appointments and resulted in the collection of 69 units of blood. According to The Blood Connection, the donations have the potential to help more than 200 patients.

The blood collected through The Blood Connection's program will remain in the local community, providing lifesaving blood products to local hospitals and medical helicopters when patients need them.

In addition to supporting local patients, the blood drive also provides some financial support for the Speech & Debate Team. Through its partnership with The Blood Connection, the team will receive a $1,000 grant to help offset the cost of travel to speech and debate tournaments during the 2026-27 school year.

Travel is the team's biggest expense. A single bus trip to a tournament costs approximately $1,200. Because the Sumter High Speech & Debate Team does not receive funding from the school or school district for tournament travel, community support and fundraising are essential to providing students with opportunities to compete.

"Speech and debate teaches our students the importance of using their voices to make a difference, and this event gave them an opportunity to put those values into action," said Joshua Miller, Speech & Debate advisor at Sumter High School. "We are extremely grateful to everyone who participated and supported the drive. The 69 units of blood we collected will make a meaningful difference for many patients in our community, and the grant will help our students travel to tournaments where they will gain incredibly valuable educational experiences."

The team expressed its appreciation to The Blood Connection, Sumter High School administration and staff, students, families and community members who supported the event and helped make the drive successful.

The blood drive is part of the Speech & Debate Team's broader commitment to community service and leadership. Through competitive speech and debate, students develop skills in public speaking, critical thinking, research, argumentation, leadership and communication while also being encouraged to serve their school and community.

The Sumter High School Speech & Debate Team will return to competition on Thursday, Sept. 24, when their second tournament season begins.

About Sumter High School Speech & Debate

The Sumter High School Speech & Debate Team provides students with opportunities to develop communication, critical thinking, research, argumentation and leadership skills through competitive speech and debate. The team competes at tournaments throughout South Carolina and is committed to giving students meaningful opportunities both inside and outside the classroom.

The Sumter High School Speech & Debate Team is an active chapter of the National Speech & Debate Association, dedicated to fostering excellence in leadership, public speaking and civic engagement through competitive speech and debate. Originally active from 1993 until 2001, the team was recently relaunched in 2025 and is once again providing students with the opportunity to engage in rigorous dialogue and competition.