When it comes to signing up Michigan residents to the Organ Donor Registry, more and more colleges are taking up the challenge.
Twenty-one college and university campuses across the state took part in the annual Gift of Life Michigan Campus Challenge this year, the most in the 17-year history of the event.
“We are always pleased to have the support of young people on this important issue,” said Dorrie Dils, CEO of Gift of Life Michigan. “It’s encouraging to see additional colleges come forward to participate. That means more hope for the nearly 2,800 Michigan residents waiting for an organ transplant as well as the tens of thousands of people in need of tissue or cornea transplants.”
The five-week Gift of Life Michigan Campus Challenge concluded Feb. 20 and brought 698 new registrations to the Organ Donor Registry. Students at the participating campuses earned points for staffing tables on campus, sharing posts on social media, publishing articles in school newspapers, hosting events and sharing facts about donation at events and with friends and family.
Despite the added competition, students at Wayne State University signed up most new donors for the ninth consecutive year with 251 added to the registry. Mott Community College added 118 and Saginaw Valley State University inspired 59 people to sign up.
Siena Heights University earned a trophy for signing up the highest percentage of student population to the registry – the 39 new registrations there accounted for 4.59 percent of the student population.
Saginaw Valley State University earned the third campus challenge trophy by earning the most activity points; students there hosted 25 activities throughout the challenge, earning them 149 points. Mott Community College was the runner up in this category, with 16 activities and 111 points.
“We had great participation this year, with some new colleges taking part,” said event coordinator Taneisha Campbell, community relations coordinator at Gift of Life Michigan MOTTEP. “We learned a lot and I’m looking forward to the campus challenge in 2021.” The 2021 challenge will take place from Jan. 14 to Feb. 18.
A full list of participating colleges and universities and their final scores in the Campus Challenge is available here. You can also sign up for the 2021 Campus Challenge there, too.
If you are not already a registered organ, eye or tissue donor, you can sign up here.
