Archived News | Return to News Center

November 15, 2007

Student and professor represent ULM at national awards ceremony

More than 11,000 people from 31 countries attended the National Marrow Donor Program 2007 Council Meeting in Minneapolis; two of those people represented the University of Louisiana at Monroe.

ULM's Debbie Wisenor, interim department head of clinical laboratory science, and Chase Snyder, College of Pharmacy student and Student Government Association vice president, accepted the Collegiate Innovation Award.

The award recognizes the extraordinary outcome of ULM's Bone Marrow Drive in February, when more than 2,600 ULM faculty, staff, students and members of the Monroe community poured into ULM's new Student Union Building and set a national record for participation in a one-day drive. The drive was sponsored by ULM’s Department of Clinical Laboratory Science and the Office of Student Life and Leadership.

Representing ULM at the national awards ceremony was a "true honor," Wisenor said.

“I am extremely proud of ULM, especially the student organizations who worked tirelessly to make the Bone Marrow Drive successful," she said. "During the ceremony, we heard testimonies about people who have been saved by a bone marrow transplant and about the lives that were lost waiting on a donor match. These stories made me even more aware that our drive made a difference because more than 2,000 people were added to the Registry ... ”

Snyder was one of those people. He was tested during ULM's February drive and when he discovered he was a match for a child, he immediately agreed to the procedure, which has not yet been scheduled.

The awards ceremony in Minneapolis was a “great opportunity,” Snyder said. “The people there were amazing and it was really nice to put faces to names. I was able to meet many of the people that helped me through the confirmation process. I am amazed by the amount of people this organization affects. It was very humbling ... I was inspired by the work of everyone there.”

More about the national recognition:

The National Marrow Donor Program Awards recognize individuals and groups for their outstanding contributions in furthering the NMDP’s mission.

Each year, many people dedicate extraordinary amounts of time, energy and talent on behalf of the NMDP. The NMDP Awards are a way to recognize these people for their efforts and dedication to helping more people live longer, healthier lives through marrow and cord blood transplantation.

For more about the ULM's drive, visit:
www.ulm.edu/universityrelations/news/feb07/ahead.html

For a photo gallery about the ULM's drive, visit:
www.ulm.edu/universityrelations/news/gallery/bonemarrow

For more about Snyder's story, visit:
www.ulm.edu/universityrelations/news/aug07/donate.html

PLEASE NOTE: Some links and e-mail addresses in these archived news stories may no longer work, and some content may include events which are no longer relevent, or reference individuals and/or organizations no longer associated with ULM.