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 [ Friday, Nov. 17, 2006 ] Bleeding for PSU pays off
For the first time in three years, Penn State beat rival Michigan State in the blood drive challenge.
By Caitlin O'Malley
Collegian Staff Writer
After 15 days of rolling up their sleeves for a cause, Penn Staters came out on top of rival Michigan State in the last moments of yesterday's blood drive. Penn State inched past the Spartans by just 41 more units of blood- winning for the first time in the last three years. "In a three week period this is amazing," said Wendi Keeler, Red Cross donor resources field representative. "This is the highest Penn State has ever collected." |
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GRAPHIC: Andrew Pajak
SOURCE: Collegian Archives |
Although the drive ended at 8 p.m., large groups of last-minute donors turned out and waited until past 10 for their turns. Nichole Wickens (freshman-biobehavioral health) decided to donate despite the fact that she passed out the last two times she gave blood. "They took good care of me last time. They gave me a whole bag of cookies," she joked. Wickens said she knew her O positive blood would help many recipients and she was drawn to the competition. "My friend Sarah goes to Michigan State and I wanted to beat her," Wickens said. The fact that Wickens won a $50 Hollywood Tan gift certificate in the process made winning even sweeter. Jason Liebel (junior-crime, law and justice) usually gives blood when he has the opportunity, but this time he had an added incentive. "We are getting bonus points in our crime, law and justice class," he said. Although Liebel saw some others get sick, he said he finds that donating isn't that bad. "I tried to give double, but I didn't have enough iron," he added. Keeler said preliminary results show that overall Penn State collected 1,987 units of blood, just 13 units short of its 2,000 unit goal. Michigan collected 1,946 units in total. Each unit can save up to three lives, Keeler added. Aaron Yorke (junior-marketing) volunteered as part of philanthropic activities with his fraternity, Zeta Beta Tau. "It went really well. There have been lots of people we've had to turn away because it's been too crowded," he said. Yorke was pleased so many people wanted to give blood. "It's a generous thing to do, and it helps beat Michigan State," he said. "They've been showing us up every year since I've been here," he added. Gillian Friday (senior- mechanical engineering) came out to donate as a member of Circle K, one of the groups sponsoring yesterday's drive. Friday said the friendly competition seemed to bring more people out to the drive. "People kept asking us who was winning," she said. Wickens said she thought the competition improved the collection. "If you can combine school spirit and helping people, then why not?" Wickens said. | ||||
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