Annual blood drive pits MSU against Penn State

Although the MSU and Penn State football teams don’t square off until Nov. 21, Haley Pearson already has started the competition between the two schools.

Pearson, a business management freshman, donated her blood Tuesday as part of the 16th annual blood drive challenge between MSU and Penn State University and said she was happy to compete.

“I think it’s cool that I get to be part of (the challenge) for something I would do anyway,” Pearson said.

Throughout the next three weeks, the two universities will hold daily blood drives to collect the most blood donations as they try to collect 2,000 units each, said Paul Stumpfig, a donor recruitment representative stationed at MSU for the American Red Cross. Each pint has the potential to help three people, which means 6,000 people potentially could be helped if each university reached the goal, Stumpfig said.

Penn State has won the past two years and holds a 10-5 series lead, said Wendi Keeler, an adviser for the Penn State Student Red Cross Club and Penn State donor resources field representative. Last year, MSU collected 1,861 units and Penn State collected 2,199 units, she said.

This year’s challenge began Monday and ends Nov. 19. After the drives Monday and Tuesday, MSU has collected 220 units of blood while Penn State has collected 197 units, event officials said. Stumpfig said the challenge is off to a great start despite one donation station not meeting its daily goal.

“We had one blood drive that we didn’t necessarily achieve our goal,” Stumpfig said. “We are doing what we can to that make up and maintain the lead over Penn State.”

Two blood drives will take place from noon until 5:45 p.m. and from 1-6:45 p.m. today in Emmons and Mason-Abbot halls, respectively. Stumpfig said the challenge is a positive opportunity for students to compete for a good cause.

“It would be pretty nice to win,” he said. “We both take this seriously. As long as people are coming out and donating, it’s a great thing. But I would like to get the trophy back this year.”

In order to donate blood, certain requirements must be met. After reading a packet with restrictions, donors receive a brief physical before filling out a medical health history questionnaire, Stumpfig said.

Wonders Hall director Paul Rinella, who is coordinating the drives at Wonders Hall, said he donates his blood to “pay it forward.”

“I know that it assists others and the need is out there,” Rinella said.

Even though the competition is a fun aspect of the event, Keeler said the most important part is to get students from both universities participating.

“It doesn’t matter what school wins,” Keeler said. “The whole purpose is to help increase our blood inventory and help the patients that need it.”