UD had 700 donors to win its fourth straight CAA Blood Challenge.

Challenge met

UD wins CAA Blood Challenge championship for fourth straight year

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8:18 a.m., Dec. 18, 2014--The recently completed 13th annual Colonial Athletic Association Blood Challenge was a success yet again and the University of Delaware Athletics community continued to lead the way in this life-saving program. 

A total of 2,209 productive units of blood were collected from 1,984 donors on CAA campuses during the fall and the UD community led the way with 700 donors -- nearly 40 percent of the entire total. 

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Over the 13-year history of the event, 41,831 productive units of blood have been collected. 

UD has now captured the CAA Blood Challenge championship four straight years and eight times overall. 

CAA Commissioner Tom Yeager will present UD with the championship trophy at a home basketball game later this winter. 

“Once again the University of Delaware Athletics community has stepped up to help a great cause at a time when it is needed most," said UD Director of Athletics Eric Ziady. "We are committed to the ongoing success of the CAA Blood Challenge and we take pride in capturing the title for the fourth straight year. We want to thank everyone in the UD community who took part and gave a life-saving gift for those in need."

Drexel University finished second in the CAA Blood Challenge with 433 donors and the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, placed third with 219 donors. Hofstra University (182), Towson University (136), the College of William and Mary (107) and James Madison University (101) all had more than 100 people donate blood.

“The CAA Blood Challenge continues to be one of the conference’s most important and successful community service projects,” said Yeager. “Our thanks go out to the students, faculty and administrators whose participating will have a positive impact on the lives of thousands of people during a critical time for blood donations over the holiday season.” 

Said Jerry Oravitz, associate director of athletics for football administration and UD’s blood challenge site coordinator, “The University of Delaware Department of Athletics and Recreation Services is thrilled to capture its fourth consecutive CAA Blood Challenge Championship. This special achievement was made possible through the great efforts of everyone at the Blood Bank of Delmarva, the UD campus community, and all our donors who worked together as one team.”

UD continued its tradition of success in the CAA Blood Challenge. The event has annually been one of the largest blood drives in the Delmarva region.

“We are thrilled and proud of the results achieved with this year’s CAA Blood Challenge,” said Roy Roper, president and CEO of the Blood Bank of Delmarva. “For the University of Delaware to capture the trophy for the fourth consecutive year (and eighth overall) is a significant accomplishment. Our staff and volunteers are always excited for this annual undertaking and appreciate the unbridled enthusiasm of the students, administration and staff at the University of Delaware. Without their support, we could not do our jobs and for that, I offer my personal thanks and congratulations to the Blue Hens.” 

“Trophies are always an appreciated symbol of achievement,” continued Roper, “however, of equal importance is knowing that hundreds of patients in our community will be helped because of the UD community’s selfless donations of blood on their behalf. “

The CAA Blood Challenge was developed by the conference presidents as a fun way to emphasize the critical importance of donating blood. Each CAA institution worked with its local blood service center and designated one day during the fall term to conduct a campus-wide blood drive. Student groups, faculty, staff and alumni were all encouraged to participate. UD held its blood drive on Nov. 12 at the Trabant University Center.

Photos by Ambre Alexander Payne

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