UPDATED: Penn State Rallies, Wins Again in Blood Donor Challenge

UPDATE @ 11:06 a.m. Friday: Penn State has won the annual Blood Donor Challenge, having collected 2,019 units of blood, according to the PSU Student Red Cross Club. Rival Michigan State collected 2,008 units of blood.

The Penn State victory extends the Nittany Lions’ winning streak to five consecutive years. Thursday was the final day when donors could give blood in the 2010 contest.

An earlier report is posted below.

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Earlier report, posted @ 7:36 a.m. Thursday:

Michigan State is still leading Penn State in the annual Blood Donor Challenge and Alpha Epsilon Delta Blood Cup, but Penn State has narrowed the gap, according to the latest donation tallies.

As of Wednesday morning, donors at Penn State had given 1,431 units of blood, the PSU Student Red Cross Club reported. At Michigan State, donors had given 1,561 units.

But by late Wednesday, Penn Staters had cut MSU’s lead to fewer than 100 units. The latest numbers on Thursday morning showed Penn State with 1,709 units collected; MSU, 1,782 units.

The Donor Challenge, in its 17th year, is a friendly, three-week contest designed to boost blood supplies before winter arrives. This year’s challenge started on Nov. 1; Thursday is the final day.

Every donor can receive free pizza and a free T-shirt. Donors also are eligible to win giveaways, which this year include a $200 shopping spree; two $100 shopping sprees; a flat-screen TV; and a Fullington bus trip to New York City with a gift certificate for Broadway shows.

Penn State has won the challenge for the past four years. In fact, Penn State has won the challenge for 11 of the competition’s 17 years.

‘Penn State’s tradition of public service extends to its students, faculty and staff supporting others during times of need, and blood donation to the American Red Cross is no exception,’ university President Graham Spanier said in a news release. The competition benefits both the Greater Alleghenies Region and the Great Lakes Region of the American Red Cross.

Last year, a total of 4,041 units of blood were donated at the two schools. To help encourage student involvement, organizers at Penn State grant an annual Blood Cup Award to student organizations that generate the most donations.

The remaining PSU donation session in this year’s contest is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday in Alumni Hall at the HUB-Robeson Center, University Park. Healthy donors can give blood safely once every 56 days. Donors do not need to be formally associated with Penn State in order to give to the PSU side in the Donor Challenge.

Organizers strongly encourage donors to make appointments in advance via https://www.psuredcross.org, though walk-in donors are accepted on site. Most healthy people who are at least 17 years old — or 16 years old with parental consent — and who weigh at least 110 pounds can give blood and platelets. All donors should bring a Red Cross donor card or other identification to the blood drive.