23 May2016
Northwestern College’s spring Blood Drive a success at Bridgeview Campus
On Wednesday, May 18, Northwestern College’s Bridgeview Campus (7725 S. Harlem Avenue) opened its doors to the community and hosted an extremely successful 2016 Blood Drive! Students, faculty, staff and members of the public all participated in the four hour event facilitated by the Heartland Blood Center and sponsored by the College’s Medical Assisting Department.
This year’s Blood Drive yielded twenty six (26) pints of blood, nearly doubling last year’s results. However, fifty two (52) potential donors had actually come through the doors looking to donate. Unfortunately the wait time to give due to so many donors in line resulted in some students having to head to class and forego the donation. Others were deferred due to low iron counts, spring colds and being on antibiotics, or for recent travel outside of the country.
Each donor received a free pint of ice cream from Baskin Robbins – Heartland’s “Pint for a Pint” initiative – as a token of gratitude.
Special thanks to Medical Assisting Program Coordinator Alan Cwidak-Mosley for facilitating the event alongside Heartland, and for the volunteer efforts of a number of Medical Assisting students who aided with the efforts.
Laura Pollastrini
Laura Pollastrini is licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois and worked as a private attorney in a Chicago law firm. Her practice primarily focused on local government matters, including municipal, school district, library, township, and election law. In addition, she conducted local prosecutions for communities in Cook, DuPage, Lake and Will Counties, although she maintained clients throughout the entire State of Illinois. Prior to obtaining her law degree, Pollastrini spent a decade handling media and public relations for the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office. In addition, she has five years of experience with the Illinois Senate as Legislative Aid and District Office Manager to an Illinois Senator who rose to become President of the Illinois Senate.
Currently, Pollastrini is utilizing her legal, legislative and public relations skills to advocate on behalf of Northwestern College with local, state and federal officials as well as stakeholders in government agencies and the media. She provides strategic and tactical government affairs/public relations consultation and support to both enhance the image of the school, and to adequately respond to changes in rules promulgated by the US Department of Education and laws proposed by the US Congress and Illinois General Assembly.
Pollastini holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Loyola University and a Juris Doctor degree from DePaul University College of Law.
