PSU-MSU Blood Challenge update

Nov. 17
And the winner is ...

Penn State overcame a 250-unit deficit during the three-week competition to beat Michigan State on the final day of the 13th annual Penn State-Michigan State Blood Donor Challenge. Penn State collected 303 units of blood Thursday, putting it 43 units ahead of Michigan State. The final tally is PSU 1,989, MSU 1,946.

The combined total for both schools of 935 is more blood than has ever been collected. Both schools collected record numbers. Neither school could have done it without the support of their communities, volunteers and thousands of donors. At Penn State, the Penn State Student Red Cross Club and Alph Epsilon were co-sponsors of the challenge and the Blood Cup. Alpha Epsilon Delta, the pre-med honors society, also is a co-sponsor of the challenge.

The challenge trophy will be awared during halftime of the Penn State-Michigan State football game on Saturday. Winners of the Blood Cup also will be announced with representatives from both sides on the field.

The challenge is an annual friendly competition between Penn State and Michigan State to collect blood before the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. This year, 3,935 units of blood were collected between both schools, the most ever. This blood will save lives during the holiday season, a time when blood inventories tend to drop because donors are busy with holiday activities.


Nov. 16
Last day

Penn State is making a strong comeback and Thursday's blood drive at the HUB-Robeson Center will decide the winner of the 13th annual Penn State-Michigan State Blood Donor Challenge. Collections were good on Wednesday at the HUB-Robeson Center, with Penn State collecting 244 units of blood for the goal of 250. Michigan State collected 175 for its goal of 190. Michigan State is now at 98.8 percent of its collection goal, while Penn State is running at 99.2 percent. The current score is PSU 1,686, MSU 1,809.

Penn State can win this challenge if it does well at the HUB-Robeson Center today. Michigan State has 140 units scheduled be collected. Penn State's goal for today is 300, but the Red Cross is hoping for 390 donors. Today's drive will be held from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the HUB-Robeson Center Alumni Hall, sponsored by Circle K, Delta Sigma Pi, Gamma Phi Beta and Zeta Beta Tau.

Anyone who hasn't donated blood yet during the challenge is encouraged to come and help Penn State in its final push to win. The challenge is open to the public. Parking is available anytime for non-students and after 5 p.m. for students at the HUB parking deck.

Penn State football Coach Joe Paterno is the honorary chairperson for this event. Donors are encouraged to send their get-well wishes to him by signing cards at the canteen after their donation. This year's challenge has been made possible by Papa John's Pizza, McDonalds and the Penn State Federal Credit Union. All drives feature pizza and orange drink. All presenting donors will be entered into a donor appreciation raffle for items from local businesses.


Nov. 15
Final two days

Penn State had a great day at the HUB-Robeson Center on Tuesday, collecting 186 units of blood for the goal of 185. However, Michigan State also had a great day. They collected 173 units for their goal of 125. If Michigan State continues to collect over its goal, it will be extremely hard for Penn State to catch up. However, Penn State is now within 200 units of Michigan State and still within striking distance for a comeback win. The current score is PSU 1,442, MSU 1,634.

Currently, Penn State is collecting 99.4 percent of its goal, while MSU has come back and now is collecting 99.6 percent of its goal. Penn State has a chance to catch up if all of the Nittany Lion community comes out to donate at the last two drives of the challenge:

-- Wednesday, Nov. 15: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., HUB-Robeson Center Alumni Hall, sponsored by Alpha Phi Omega, Health and Human Development Student Council and Phi Chi Theta. The goal for this drive was 250; however, 325 donors are needed to help catch up to Michigan State.

-- Thursday, Nov. 16: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., HUB-Robeson Center Alumni Hall. The goal for this final drive in the challenge was 300; however, 390 donors are needed to catch Michigan State.

Anyone who has not yet donated blood during the challenge is encouraged to come and help Penn State in its final push to win the challenge. The challenge is open to the public, and community members are encouraged to donate. Parking is available anytime for non-students and after 5 p.m. for students at the HUB parking deck. Appointments are strongly recommended for these final days. To make an appointment online, visit http://www.psuredcross.org/ online. Walk-ins still are welcome and will be taken whenever possible, but will have a longer wait. For more information call the Red Cross office at (814) 237-2713.

Penn State football Coach Joe Paterno is the honorary chairperson for this event. Donors are encouraged to send their get-well wishes to him by signing cards at the canteen after their donation.


Nov. 14
Starting the comeback

The last week of the 13th annual Penn State-Michigan State Blood Donor Challenge started Monday with Penn State collecting 169 units of blood, 61 more units than Michigan State. With Monday's successful blood drives, Penn State cut Michigan State's lead to a little more than 200 units. If Penn State continues to out-donate Michigan State, the chance of a Nittany Lion comeback is greater than ever. The current score is PSU 1,257, MSU 1,437.

Monday was the start of Penn State's larger-goaled drives. Today, Penn State is scheduled to collect 185 units of blood, while Michigan State is scheduled to collect only 125 units. More than 650 donors must come out in the next three days.

This week's scheduled blood drives are:

-- Tuesday, Nov. 14: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., HUB-Robeson Center Alumni Hall, sponsored by the Association of Women in Science, Delta Sigma Iota, Gamma Sigma Sigma, and Pi Delta Psi. Donors at this drive will have the opportuntuy to enter into the National Marrow Donor Program. Volunteers need only to undergo a simple cheek swab.

-- Wednesday, Nov. 15: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., HUB-Robeson Center Alumni Hall.

-- Thursday, Nov. 16: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., HUB-Robeson Center Alumni Hall.

The challenge is open to the public. Community members are encouraged to donate at the HUB-Robeson Center. Parking is available anytime for non-students and after 5 p.m. for students at the HUB parking deck. Appointments are strongly recommended for these final days. To make an appointment online, visit http://www.psuredcross.org/ online. Walk-ins still are welcome and will be taken whenever possible, but will have a longer wait. For more information call the Red Cross office at (814) 237-2713.

Penn State football Coach Joe Paterno is the honorary chairperson for this event. Donors are encouraged to send their get-well wishes to him by signing cards at the canteen after their donation.


Nov. 13
Catch-up time

Once again Penn State surpassed its daily collection goal, collecting 44 for the goal of 40 Sunday in the Pollock Rec. Room. Michigan State did have two drives this past weekend, however, collecting 70 units and increasing its lead to more than 250 pints of blood. The current score is: PSU 1,088, MSU 1,356.

Penn State is poised to start its comeback today (Nov. 13). With more than 900 units of blood scheduled to be collected this week at Penn State, a comeback of this magnitude is certainly possible. The Spartans are set to collect less than 600 in the last week. A strong showing by students, faculty, staff and the community is necessary to make it possible. Penn State must see more than 1,200 donors come out this week. The Red Cross currently has 575 of those with committed appointments on this week’s donor schedules.

The challenge is open to the public. Community members are encouraged to donate at the HUB-Robeson Center. Parking is available anytime for non-students and after 5 p.m. for students at the HUB parking deck. Appointments are strongly recommended for these final days. To make an appointment online, visit http://www.psuredcross.org/ online. Walk-ins still are welcome, but may have a much longer wait. For more information call the Red Cross office at (814) 237-2713.

Penn State football Coach Joe Paterno is the honorary chairperson for this event. Donors are encouraged to send their get-well wishes to him by signing cards at the canteen after their donation.

This week's scheduled blood drives are:

-- Monday, Nov. 13: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., IM Building gym and HUB-Robeson Center Alumni Hall, sponsored by Kappa Theta Epsilon, the Latino Caucus, Phi Gamma Nu and the Recreation Parks Tourism Management Student Society. Those who want to donate but don’t have an appointment should try to visit the IM Building between 10 and 11:30 a.m., 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. or 2:45 to 3:15 p.m.

-- Tuesday, Nov. 14: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., HUB-Robeson Center Alumni Hall. Donors at this drive will have the opportuntuy to enter into the National Marrow Donor Program. Volunteers need only to undergo a simple cheek swab.

-- Wednesday, Nov. 15: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., HUB-Robeson Center Alumni Hall.

-- Thursday, Nov. 16: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., HUB-Robeson Center Alumni Hall.


Nov. 10
PSU holds its own

Penn State continues to hold its own in the 13th annual Penn State-Michigan State Blood Donor Challenge. Donors gave 41 units for the goal of 30 at Brill Hall on Thursday in Eastview Terrace and 94 units for the goal of 95 in East Halls. Michigan State also did well, however, collecting 204 for their goal of 170. The current score is PSU 952, MSU 1,158.

Upcoming blood drives scheduled are:

Friday, Nov. 10: noon to 6 p.m., Johnston Bravo Room in East Halls, sponsored by the East Halls Residence Halls and Alpha Delta Pi.

Sunday, Nov. 12: noon to 5 p.m., Pollock Rec. Room.

Monday, Nov. 13: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., IM Building gym and HUB-Robeson Center Alumni Hall.

Tuesday, Nov. 14: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., HUB-Robeson Center Alumni Hall. Donors at this drive will have the opportuntuy to enter into the National Marrow Donor Program. Volunteers need only to undergo a simple cheek swab.

Wednesday, Nov. 15: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., HUB-Robeson Center Alumni Hall.

Thursday, Nov. 16: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., HUB-Robeson Center Alumni Hall.

Penn State football Coach Joe Paterno is the honorary chairperson for this event. Donors are encouraged to send their get-well wishes to him by signing cards at the canteen after their donation.

To make an appointment to donate, visit http://www.psuredcross.org online.

Those who have been deferred in the past for low iron levels should start now to increase their iron levels. Take a multi-vitamin. Good foods to eat in the days and weeks before donating are meat, fish, chicken and green leafy vegetables. Vitamin C paired with these foods will aid the iron absorption. Try to avoid milk and caffeine, as they will block iron absorption.


Nov. 9
PSU making gains

Penn State did well on Wednesday, collecting 56 for 55 at the IST Building and 98 for 95 in West Halls. Michigan State also did well, collecting 117 for 115. The current score is PSU 817, MSU 955.

Penn State is scheduled to collect 125 units today (Nov. 9) at two locations; MSU is scheduled to collect 170 units at three drives.

Upcoming blood drives scheduled are:

Thursday, Nov. 9: 1 to 7 p.m., Brill Hall in Eastview Terrace; and 1 to 7 p.m., Johnston Bravo Room in East Halls, sponsored by the East Halls Residence Halls, Eastview Nittany Residence Association and Pi Lambda Phi.

Friday, Nov. 10: noon to 6 p.m., Johnston Bravo Room in East Halls.

Sunday, Nov. 12: noon to 5 p.m., Pollock Rec. Room.

Monday, Nov. 13: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., IM Building and HUB-Robeson Center.

Penn State football Coach Joe Paterno is the honorary chairperson for this event. Donors are encouraged to send their get-well wishes to him by signing cards at the canteen after their donation.

To make an appointment to donate, visit http://www.psuredcross.org online.

Those who have been deferred in the past for low iron levels should start now to increase their iron levels. Take a multi-vitamin. Good foods to eat in the days and weeks before donating are meat, fish, chicken and green leafy vegetables. Vitamin C paired with these foods will aid the iron absorption. Try to avoid milk and caffeine, as they will block iron absorption.


Nov. 8
PSU closes gap

Even though Penn State closed the gap slightly on Tuesday against Michigan State, the Red Cross did not reach its goal at either blood drive on campus. They collected 88 for the goal of 95 in Pollock and 49 for the goal of 55 in North halls. Overall, Penn State still is doing well, collecting 663 for its overall goal of 665 against Michigan State's 838 for their goal of 910. The current score is PSU 663, MSU 838.

Penn State donors don’t seem to have eaten their spinach before the drives this week. At Tuesday’s drives, more than 25 percent of the donors who came to donate were deferred (not allowed to donate) mostly for an iron level that does not meet Red Cross minimum levels. Some good foods to eat in the days and weeks before donating are meat, fish, chicken and green leafy veggies. Vitamin C paired with these foods will aid the iron absorption. Those who are trying to increase iron levels should try to avoid milk and caffeine, which will block iron absorption. Taking a multi-vitamin also may help.

Penn State football Coach Joe Paterno is the honorary chairperson for this event. Donors are encouraged to send their get-well wishes to him by signing cards at the canteen after their donation.

Penn State is scheduled to collect 150 units today at two locations; MSU is scheduled to collect 115 units at two drives.

Blood drives scheduled for this week are:

Wednesday, Nov. 8: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., IST Building ground floor east, sponsored by the College of IST, IST Student Government and Women in IST; and 1 to 7 p.m., Waring Lounge in West Halls, sponsored by the West Hall Residence Association. This schedule is almost totally full; walk-in donors are encouraged to consider another drive.

Thursday, Nov. 9: 1 to 7 p.m., Brill Hall in Eastview Terrace; and 1 to 7 p.m., Johnston Bravo Room in East Halls.

Friday, Nov. 10: noon to 6 p.m., Johnston Bravo Room in East Halls.

Sunday, Nov. 12: noon to 5 p.m., Pollock Rec. Room.

To make an appointment to donate, visit http://www.psuredcross.org online.


Nov. 7
PSU staying competitive

Penn State continues to stay competitive with Michigan State in the 13th annual Penn State-Michigan State Blood Donor Challenge. Even though it looks like Penn State is not gaining much ground, the numbers show that Michigan State has collected 744 for their goal of 805, while Penn State has collected 526 for its goal of 515. Continuing to reach the goal for each and every drive is imperative for Penn State to have a chance to come back next week. The current score is PSU 526, MSU 744.

On Monday, the Red Cross collected 50 for 55 at Deike Building and 91 for 95 in the Simmons Study Lounge. Anyone who plans to donate should remember to stay well hydrated before the donation. Thirteen people attempted to donate Monday in Simmons and could not complete their donation. Being well-hydrated will certainly help.

Blood drives scheduled for this week are:

Tuesday, Nov. 7: 1 to 7 p.m., Pollock Rec. Room; and 1 to 7 p.m., Warnock Lounge in North Halls.

Wednesday, Nov. 8: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., IST Building; and 1 to 7 p.m., Waring Lounge in West Halls.

Thursday, Nov. 9: 1 to 7 p.m., Brill Hall in Eastview Terrace; and 1 to 7 p.m., Johnston Bravo Room in East Halls.

Friday, Nov. 10: noon to 6 p.m., Johnston Bravo Room in East Halls.

Sunday, Nov. 12: noon to 5 p.m., Pollock Rec. Room.


Nov. 6
PSU still reaching goals

Even though it looks like Penn State has really fallen behind in this year's PSU-MSU Challenge, the Red Cross still is reaching its goals and is right on target for a big comeback during the final week. They can only make it with help from faculty, staff, students and those in the surrounding community. Anyone who has not yet donated should make an appointment at http://www.psuredcross.org online.

The current score is: PSU 385, MSU 656.

If Penn State can continue to reach its collection goals for all residence hall drives, Deike Building and the IST Building, the University will be in good shape for the last week of the challenge. Blood drives scheduled for this week are:

Monday, Nov. 6: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Deike Building, sponsored by the EMS Undergraduate and Graduate Student Councils; and 1 to 7 p.m., Simmons Lounge, sponsored by South Halls Residence Association and Schreyers Honors College Student Council.

Tuesday, Nov. 7: 1 to 7 p.m., Pollock Rec. Room; and 1 to 7 p.m., Warnock Lounge in North Halls.

Wednesday, Nov. 8: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., IST Building; and 1 to 7 p.m., Waring Lounge in West Halls.

Thursday, Nov. 9: 1 to 7 p.m., Brill Hall in Eastview Terrace; and 1 to 7 p.m., Johnston Bravo Room in East Halls.

Friday, Nov. 10: noon to 6 p.m., Johnston Bravo Room in East Halls.


Nov. 2
PSU doing well

Even with the lead growing, Penn State still is doing well in the 13th annual PSU-MSU Blood Donor Challenge. Thursday saw 78 donors at the Kunkle Lounge in Hammond Building, collecting 69 units of blood. The current score is PSU 301, MSU 461.

Penn State donors have allowed the Red Cross to exceed its collections goals for the first four days of the challenge. Penn State is collecting 107 percent of its goal, which Michigan State is collecting 94 percent of its goal.

Friday's blood drive will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Hintz Family Alumni Center, sponsored by the Blue and White Society, Lion Ambassadors and the Penn State Alumni Association.

Next week, blood drives will be in the residence halls, Deike Building and the IST Building.


Nov. 1
MSU lead grows

Michigan State continues to build its lead over Penn State in the 13th annual PSU-MSU Blood Donor Challenge. The current score is Penn State 232, Michigan State 344.

Penn State continues to exceed its daily goal, but Michigan State has more blood drives in the early part of the challenge. Penn State's goal is to continue to meet or exceed each daily goal, and ultimately to collect the 2,000 units of blood that is the challenge goal.

Thursday's blood drive will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Kunkle Lounge in Hammond Building. This locations is directly across from the Corner Room.Thursday's sponsors are the College of Engineering, the Association of Mechanical Engineering, the Society of Women Engineers and Tau Beta Pi.

Friday's blood drive will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Hintz Family Alumni Center.


Oct. 31
MSU takes the lead

Michigan State overtook the slight lead that Penn State built yesterday. On Oct. 31, Penn State donors gave 60 units, exceeding the goal of 55. Michigan State collected 120 units for their two-drive goal of 125. The current score stands at PSU 156, MSU 203

Today's blood drive, sponsored by Hillel and Navigators, will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center. Other blood drives this week are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 2, in Kunkle Lounge of Hammond Building, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3, in the Hintz Family Alumni Center.


Oct. 30
PSU ahead after first day
The first day of the 2006 PSU-MSU Challenge is history. Penn State pulled out to a slight lead. The current score is PSU 96, MSU 85

On Tuesday, Oct. 31, there will be a special Halloween treat for all donors who come in costume between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to the mezzanine level of Rec Hall, sponsored by the BBH Society and Phi Delta Theta. Parking is available at the Nittany Deck for those not on campus.

Starting tomorrow, MSU will start to build up a lead until our large HUB drives during the last week. It is always important to reach the goal set for a blood drive because the hospital patients that the Red Cross serves always depend on voluntary blood donations. However, this week and next are especially important during the challenge. Tomorrow's goal is 55 units.

Appointments are recommended for all drives. Visit http://www.psuredcross.org for the complete schedule and to make an appoitment.

For details about the challenge, visit http://live.psu.edu/story/20297 online.