Blood Drive Sees Rivals Mississippi College and Delta State Compete

Mississippi College sophomore Kaylan Burross of Memphis donates the gift of life during a Mississippi Blood Services drive on the Clinton campus October 22.

A November blood drive will see rivals Mississippi College and Delta State battle for bragging rights and a nice trophy.

But the real winners will be the scores of Mississippians who will receive the gift of life.

Tammy Bouchillon of Mississippi Blood Services says the goal will be collecting a total of 150 units of blood in the fall campaign on the campuses in Clinton and Cleveland.

The new MBS drive will be open to faculty, staff, and students at the two Gulf South Conference schools in the Magnolia State.

The campaign begins at Mississippi College November 10-11. Delta State gets its turn on November 12. The MC Choctaws and the DSU Statesmen square off on the football field at Delta State’s Homecoming on November 15. Kickoff that Saturday is at 4 p.m.

Mississippi College and Delta State used to compete in blood drives through the mid-1990s when both institutions were members of the Gulf South Conference. MC is transitioning to NCAA Division II athletics and rejoined the GSC this fall.

“I like bringing out the competitive spirit,” says Mississippi College sophomore Chase Logan, 19. He was lined up to donate at a Mississippi Blood Services bus parked near Provine Chapel on October 22. “It helps save lives and brings people together.”

MC junior Brittany VanDyke, 21, of Madison says she’s got several friends at Delta State and is delighted to see the rival institutions face off for a good cause.

“I think it’s great – the more donations the better,” says MC sophomore Kaylan Burross, 19, of Memphis. The biology major was a blood donor on the Clinton campus Wednesday.

VanDyke is pretty familiar with the routine of giving blood. The Madison Central High graduate has given blood five times in recent years. “A lot of my friends from high school needed blood.”

The latest Mississippi Blood Services drive at Mississippi College on October 22 was sponsored by Alpha Epsilon Delta.

Founded in 1979, Flowood-based Mississippi Blood Services conducts blood drives supporting 49 hospitals across the state.

For more information on Mississippi Blood Services, call 888-90-BLOOD or go to www.msblood.com.