Students participating in the Penn State-Michigan State Blood Donor Challenge will simultaneously be competing in the Blood Cup, a Penn State competition between student organizations to see which group can donate the most blood.

The Blood Cup, which is co-sponsored by the Student Red Cross Club (SRCC) and the premedicine honor society Alpha Epsilon Delta, is intended to build competition among Penn State student organizations, SRCC Education Chair Jenn Wilson said.

Wilson said student organizations are divided into three categories: small (groups with fewer than 50 members), large (groups with 50 members or more) and social greek (groups registered with the Office of Greek Life). The group in each category with the highest percentage of its membership donating blood during the challenge will win the category.

Wilson said last year's winners were the Pollock Halls Residence Association for the small group category, service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega for the large group category and hunting-interest fraternity Tau Phi Delta, 427 E. Fairmount Ave., for the greek category.

Students do not have to belong to an organization to donate on its behalf, Alpha Epsilon Delta President Arash Salavitabar said.

Casey Fenton, president of Tau Phi Delta, said he's confident the group will win the Blood Cup again this year. He said the Blood Cup is a very important service event to the fraternity, and members recruit as many people as possible to donate on their behalf.

Fenton said the fraternity uses word of mouth to get friends to donate for Tau Phi Delta.

"People are more than willing to donate," he said.

Wilson said that last year, about 110 organizations competed in the Blood Cup. "I'm going to expect the same amount as last year," she said.

Salavitabar said he expects a lot of donations this year because of the football team's success.

"It's all about school spirit," he said.

Adele Hobbs, Blood Cup associate chair, said making the competition aspect of the blood drive is key.

"Competition always brings out more in students," she said.

Salavitabar also said friendly competition is one of the best things about the Blood Cup. He said that the final week of the drive is always the busiest because students are trying to get their organization to donate the most blood.

"They come in because of the competition," Salavitabar said.

Hobbs said the Blood Cup winners in each category will be honored at a banquet on Dec. 5.

"There's no money prize or anything -- just bragging rights," Hobbs said.

Wilson said the winners of the Blood Cup will also be announced at the Penn State-Michigan State game Nov. 19. Each winning organization will also receive a trophy. She said that although the competition is a social event, it's for a good cause.

"The main thing is really to get people to come out and donate," Wilson said. "We're looking for a fun way to get clubs to participate in the challenge."