Chemical engineering senior Dan Siemen, front, and food industry management senior Sabina Grusnick give blood Tuesday at the 15th annual Michigan State vs. Penn State Blood Challenge in the Lake Huron Room of the Union.
—While the points may keep growing on Saturday, the pints have been growing since the beginning of November.
Much hype surrounds this weekend’s MSU football game against Penn State in State College, Pa. Off the gridiron, Katie Welch, president of MSU’s American Red Cross Club, is focused on getting a leg up on the Nittany Lions with the American Red Cross in the 15th annual Michigan State vs. Penn State Blood Challenge.
Students and faculty members are encouraged to donate a pint of blood as the MSU community looks to regain the title Penn State has protected the past two years, as well as leading 9-5 overall.
“We have a larger club this year and there is a lot of enthusiasm, so it’s exciting,” said Welch, an anthropology senior. “On Saturday, we had our blood drive at (Spartan Stadium) and a lot of people showed up. We haven’t done that in the past, but regardless, now is always a good time of the year to donate blood before the holidays start.”
The competition began Nov. 3. Heading into today, Penn State led MSU 1,348 to 1,309 pints of blood.
Today, donors may go to either Wonders Hall (9 a.m. to 8:45 p.m.) or Holmes Hall (noon to 5:45 p.m.) and walk in to give blood. Thursday is the last day of the competition.
“The ending is the deal-clincher,” said physiology and French sophomore Katelyn Regan, the Red Cross Club’s vice president. “They have their huge drive at the end every year and that’s where they always get us.”
Wendi Keeler, Penn State’s donor resources field representative, said the school’s success has come from involvement with more than 50 student organizations in the university’s 17 various blood drives throughout the academic year.
Keeler said students involved set strict goals for themselves and know what it will take to accomplish those expectations.
“They know it’s not an option to miss the goal,” she said.
To counter the Nittany Lions’ pursuit, Paul Stumpfig, MSU’s American Red Cross donor recruitment representative, thought it would be more practical to re-evaluate how the organization’s budget is spent.
Instead of passing out a T-shirt to every person who donates (4,000 shirts in two years), Stumpfig said he chose the raffle prize route — allowing anyone who donates or is even deferred to fill out raffle tickets.
At the end of the competition, those with their name drawn could win an Apple Macbook computer, a PlayStation 3, one of two footballs signed by MSU football head coach Mark Dantonio or a gift card to various stores.
But all those involved agreed the most important thing about the competition is reaching 4,000 pints between the two schools.
“Regardless of who wins, this is an opportunity to beat Penn State in something else, an opportunity to serve the community and adequately supply hospitals that we service as well to keep an adequate supply of blood on demand,” Stumpfig said.
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