Midwestern has measured the Texas Blood Institute trophy and made the appropriate room in the trophy case in anticipation for the announcement of the winner from the MSU vs. West Texas A&M blood drive competition.
The winner of the competition will be announced at halftime of the MSU vs. West Texas football game on Oct. 10 at Memorial Stadium.
But this week’s blood drive is only the most recent example of students donating blood on campus. Two weeks ago, the Texas Blood Institute came to campus for a one-day blood drive working with theResidence Hall Association.
“Jennifer Risinger, account manager for Texas Blood Institute, approached me about RHA volunteering again for this year’s blood drive,” said Clint Coulter, resident hall director. “RHA is always looking for opportunities to get involved and to give back to the community. We were pleased to volunteer.”
Kenadi Campbell, a sophomore in computer science and RHA member, helped out at the blood drive by working the check-in desk.
Campbell said she tried to get people to come donate by yelling out, “You want a free shirt? All you need to do is bleed?”
Ashley Ates, a sophomore in international studies, said she has donated blood seven times and she enjoys it because she has O-negative blood, which is a universal blood donor.
“When they poked my vein, I could see my blood splatter, which was cool,” said Ates. “They were really friendly and talked to me.”
Taylor Dinkins, a freshman in business management, said she was at the blood drive to volunteer with RHA but was going to donate blood as well.
Dinkins said, “I signed up to donate but the line was so long that by the time they were ready for me, they weren’t taking anymore people.”
There were 102 people signed up to donate blood. Out of 102, 47 successful donations were given. This was Texas Blood Institute’s second largest donation with the first dating back to November 2005.
President of the Student Government Association Jesse Brown, a senior in criminal justice, said the blood drive was created last year to help support the friendly rivalry between our schools by adding a competition that allows students the chance to participate or volunteer while also contributing to a greater cause.
“Students should donate blood not for rivalry’s sake, but because this kind of action can legitimately save lives and leave a positive impact in out community. We should all want to serve our communities in every way possible. The glory of life is not what you can take from this world but what you can give this world. Giving blood takes less than an hour but could add years to a recipients life.”
