October 8, 2026
As a history major, Taylor likes to look at the bigger picture. When she learned that there’s been a nationwide blood shortage since 2020 and that one single donation could save up to three lives, Taylor decided she needed to help solve this historic crisis.
As an ambassador for Abbott, Taylor’s asking every Husker to get in the game with her by contributing to their yearly blood drive competition.
“This competition was created by Abbott to involve Big Ten universities and, obviously, get a bunch of one-time donations during the fall semester. But, really, our goal is to foster lifelong donors,” Taylor explains. “It’s really important to get young people donating blood again since we're in a real crisis in the U.S. — all day, every day, people need blood to save their lives.”
To be exact, someone needs blood every two seconds in the U.S. As she started her role as a student ambassador, Taylor was struck by how much wider the uses for blood were than she expected.
“Someone I knew told me a story about how she needed nine units of blood while she was in labor with her child, and that really hit me — there are so many uses we don’t really think about,” she says. “It’s not for just accidents or illnesses. Anyone, whether it’s your family member, friend, professor or classmate, could need blood at a moment’s notice for something they’re dealing with.”
For something that feels so consequential, Taylor says the actual process of donating is a breeze — even if it’s something that feels a little nerve-wracking.
“I totally get being freaked out,” she laughs. “Before I donated for the first time, I was completely nervous, but it ended up being so painless. Plus, at the donation sites on campus, volunteers are there to talk to people and make you feel comfortable. We’ll bring you snacks, water, chat with you — whatever you need to feel okay.”
Donating takes an average of 30 minutes. Anyone in the Husker community who wants to support Nebraska can visit huskers.com/giveblood to see where and when they can donate next and log their contribution. The Big Ten school that racks up the most donations — as Nebraska did in 2024 — gets $1 million from Abbott to boost student health and well-being resources across campus and fund registered student organizations.
Taylor’s ready to reestablish our dominance.
“It’s incredible how many student orgs benefited from that money two years ago, and it would be so cool to get it again this year. Not only would winning benefit Husker students in such a big way, but we’d be saving so many lives — that’s why this work really touches my heart.”
Taylor Hostert is a junior history major from Seward, Nebraska.