Transplantation Science Program Reaches Over 20,000 Students, Advancing Education on Donation

In its continued dedication to saving and healing lives through organ and tissue donation for transplantation, Donor Alliance today presented the prestigious 2024 Community of Excellence Award to Eaglecrest High School in Aurora and its dedicated teacher, Niki Kigerl. The award, given annually, honors an individual or organization in Colorado or Wyoming that excels in inspiring and educating others about the importance of organ and tissue donation. Last year, Kigerl stood out for her unwavering commitment to the cause, motivating countless students to learn about the life-saving impact of organ and tissue donation, including the significance of the heart on a driver license. For more than a decade, Kigerl has impacted nearly 20,000 students through Donor Alliance’s Transplantation Science Program, which offers 6^th through 12^th graders an engaging, hands-on curriculum about the science behind organ and tissue donation.

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Niki Kigerl, Eaglecrest High School teacher and award recipient, poses with her family. Photo courtesy of Garo Productions.

“This is a remarkable achievement for Niki Kigerl, Cherry Creek Schools, and Donor Alliance,” said Jennifer Prinz, President and CEO of Donor Alliance. “It is through initiatives like this—educating young people about the profound, lifesaving impact of organ and tissue donation—that we build public trust and inspire more people to check the box and register. With nearly 1,300 Coloradans currently waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant and tens of thousands more needing a tissue transplant, this kind of education is vital to saving and healing lives.”

Beyond teaching the science of organ and tissue donation, Kigerl connects her students to the mission on a deeply personal level—her son was born with a rare liver disease and will one day need a transplant. Through her work, she’s inspired countless young people to understand the life-saving power of donation and what it means to get the little heart on their driver license. One person can save up to eight lives through organ donation and save and heal up to 75 more through tissue donation.

“If even one student or family member has had the education and made an informed decision regarding organ and tissue donation, I would be honored to be connected to their story,” said Kigerl. “I appreciate all Donor Alliance does for our Eaglecrest High School community. I’m honored they come out to speak to our freshmen about this important and heroic gift of life.”

Donor Alliance’s Transplantation Science Program is a free curriculum that offers students across Colorado and most of Wyoming the chance to learn about the organ donation process, get the facts around organ and tissue donation, explore plastinated organs and tissues from the human body, gain an understanding of the organ allocation process, and much more.

About Donor Alliance

Donor Alliance is a non-profit organization dedicated to saving and healing lives through organ and tissue donation for transplantation in Colorado and most of Wyoming. As a federally designated organ procurement organization – one of 56 in the U.S. – Donor Alliance serves more than 6.3 million residents and more than 100 hospitals. Donor Alliance walks alongside the family during the organ recovery process and ensures their loved one’s gifts are safely received at transplant centers in a timely manner. Donor Alliance also facilitates tissue donation to save and heal more lives across our community. The organization also manages the Donate Life Colorado and Donate Life Wyoming registries. Through Donate Life, the symbol of the cause, Donor Alliance educates residents on the lifesaving benefits of donation, inspiring them to register. For more information or to register as an organ, eye and tissue donor, please visit DonorAlliance.org.

About Cherry Creek Schools

Cherry Creek School District serves more than 53,000 students and 300,000 residents across eight municipalities. It is the fourth largest school district in Colorado and the largest employer in Arapahoe County, Colorado. Cherry Creek achieves its mission “to inspire every student to think, to learn, to achieve, to care” through its five Core Values: Growth Mindset, Equity, Whole Wellbeing, Engagement and Relationships. Cherry Creek’s dedication to excellence has been a guiding principle for more than 70 years and continues to guide the district’s approach to ensuring a Pathway of Purpose and a bright, fulfilling future for each and every student.

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