Audrey Eisentrout’s hard work paid off. With a high grade point average of 4.0 and an earnest drive toward life and academics, she gained attention from her softball coach for a scholarship opportunity to help others through blood drives.When Michelle Coultas, the University’s softball head coach, was approached about a scholarship from the Red Cross, she immediately thought of Eisentrout.“She came to mind because I know her GPA, I know her time spent with volunteer work, and I know how involved she gets with stuff on campus so I thought she would be a good candidate,” said Coultas in a phone interview Thursday afternoon.Through the scholarship, provided by a partnership with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletes (NAIA) and the Red Cross, Eisentrout will learn leadership skills and how to run a blood drive in Washington, D.C. On top of that, she also received $2,000 toward her tuition.Eisentrout, a sophomore biology major, will be managing and organizing the blood drives. She will be getting volunteers to help and give blood. She will also be the main contact for the blood drives and will complete simple tasks like ordering the pizza for the volunteers.“I’m excited. Helping and running the one blood drive this semester made me aware, I helped this many lives. [I’m excited] to raise awareness and get more help,” said Eisentrout at the Conestoga Starbucks on Tuesday evening.In February, Eisentrout assisted another student, Amanda Ardinger, with a blood drive held on campus, making Eisentrout a future Red Cross representative and scholarship candidate.      According to www.redcross.org, the American Red Cross Blood Services collect approximately 6.5 million units of blood every year. Eisentrout is eager to contribute to the numbers of this operation; but ultimately, she wants to save lives.“Thirty-one people gave [at the blood drive in February], that’s a pint each. Each pint can save up to three lives, that’s 93 lives,” said Eisentrout with enthusiasm about February’s blood drive. Dana Zikesh, donor resources field representative at the Red Cross, had the opportunity to work with Eisentrout at the last blood drive in February.  Zikesh has faith in Eisentrout’s ability to run future blood drives.“It will be completely in her hands, and she already has a good foundation,” said Zikesh. “She’s really enthusiastic. I am thrilled to work with her.”Eisentrout said she is appreciative of this opportunity, though it was a product of her own hard work. Along with keeping up with academics, Eisentrout is on the leadership team for The Body Christian Fellowship, and she is a member of the Honors Program and Green and Gold Society. On top of all of that, she is a lab assistant and a tutor in the Program for Academic Success, as well as an essential member of her softball team.“I’m very proud of her, she’s a great representative, not just for the softball team but she’s a great asset to the university. I think she was a good choice [for the scholarship],” said Coultous.Softball was a big part in her college decision and is a huge part of her life. After two torn anterior cruciate ligaments, or ACLs, Eisentrout was inspired for her future. She plans to go on to graduate school for physical therapy with her biology degree so she can help other athletes the way physical therapists helped her.“I want to thank the athletics department. I’ve had awesome opportunities here at Point Park and I’ve been able to thrive. It’s pretty cool,” said Eisentrout.For more information on the scholarship and the Red Cross, visit www.redcross.org.