A year 12 student at Marist College, Kogarah, Chris, 17, of Monterey, beat 90 hopefuls to take out the state title of the Australian Red Cross Blood Service's Young Bloods radio competition.

The budding radio announcer produced a 30-second commercial extolling the virtues of young people donating blood.

"I hope the win kick starts my career,'' Chris said.

``I want to study media or journalism when I leave school.''

The school's vice captain, Gaetano Venticinque, encouraged Chris to get involved in the competition and said the school community was proud of his achievements and the potential to further his career.

"It shows you how far some initiative and perseverance can take you,'' he said.

The next step for Chris is to have his radio voice over professionally recorded and broadcast on prime time commercial radio.

The winning entries from each state will go into a national competition where 50 per cent of the "people's choice'' votes on the website www.donateblood.com.au will help decide the overall winner.

The competition is part of the Young Bloods youth program aimed at educating young Australians about the importance of blood donation.

Students at Marist College, Kogarah, can show their support on Thursday when the mobile blood bank visits the school.