Although many Penn State students claim to bleed blue and white, that legend will be put to the test as the annual Penn State-Michigan State Blood Donor Challenge begins today.

For the next 14 days, blood donations from students at each school will be counted to find out who comes out on top.

This is the 13th time the event has been held between the two schools, and although Penn State leads the series 7-5, Michigan State has won the past two years in a row, said American Red Cross field representative for Penn State and Red Cross Club adviser, Wendi Keeler.

Today's drive will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the HUB Alumni Hall. Tomorrow, the drive will be held at the same time at Rec Hall. The drives are sponsored by the Penn State Red Cross Club and premedicine honor society Alpha Epsilon Delta.

Keeler said despite having the "best collegiate blood donation program in the country," Penn State has lost by close margins.

Last year, a total of 3,831 units of blood were collected to help both the Greater Alleghenies and Great Lakes regions of the American Red Cross.

In conjunction with the Blood Donor Challenge, student organizations can also compete to win Penn State Blood Cup. To win the Blood Cup, students must compete against one another to have the highest percentage of their membership donate blood, said Tiffany Kirner (senior-biology), co-chairwoman of the Blood Cup for Alpha Epsilon Delta.

She said there are three categories for the competition -- small, large and greek organizations.

"The purpose is really just to get people out to donate blood," Kirner said.

Both universities have set a goal to collect 2,000 units of blood by the end of the challenge. Penn State will attempt to do this by holding 20 blood drives across campus throughout the next 14 days.

Although bragging rights between the schools may be motivation, Keeler said the real reason donating blood is important is to help stock the blood banks before Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, when blood donations tend to be lower.

Students interested in giving blood can make an appointment online. Although they not required, Keeler said they are recommended.

"The donor benefits because he or she is taken as a priority over people who don't have an appointment," she said. "We try to get donors with appointments into their health history within 15 minutes of their appointment time."

To be eligible to give blood, donors must be over the age of 17, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in generally good health.

For a complete listing of donation sites or to make an appointment, go to psuredcross.org.