Spring Break
Drexel honored for CAA Blood Challenge
By: Marshall Fleming
Issue date: 7/13/07 Section: News
Originally published: 7/13/07 at 12:26 AM EST
Last update: 7/13/07 at 12:25 AM EST
Originally published: 7/13/07 at 12:26 AM EST
Last update: 7/13/07 at 12:25 AM EST
For the volunteer efforts and campus involvement in the 2006 CAA Blood Challenge and other blood drives held by Drexel colleges and organizations, the University has been named the Penn-Jersey Region University of the Year by the American Red Cross.
Dr. Rebecca Gigli, Drexel's associate athletics director for academics, accepted the award on behalf of the University at the American Red Cross Blood Services Penn-Jersey annual meeting.
Winning the Colonial Athletic Association drive as well as having great turnouts in the other drives in 2006 helped Drexel gain recognition and the University of the Year award for the first time.
"Not only did we win the blood drive, but we became the Penn-Jersey University of the Year," said Gigli. "Each year we've been in the top two [in the CAA competition], which is pretty awesome. Every year, this is something we come to expect. We work together towards achieving our best possible results. We get a lot of great support from residential living, and Greek life. It's all about getting the word out and making a difference."
The numbers for the CAA Challenge alone increased substantially from 2005's totals. According to DrexelDragons.com, Drexel achieved a 16 percent increase in donations this year on the way to setting a regional record among all colleges and universities with a participation rate of 14 percent.
"Rebecca has used her motivational and organizational skills in order to bring a level of community support to the Drexel blood donation campaign, unlike anything seen in the corporate environment in Philadelphia," Athletics Director Dr. Eric Zillmer said. "For this tremendous achievement I salute her."
Other schools in the CAA have seen that Drexel is serious about the competition and have begun to employ similar ideas to get people involved. "I think other schools are starting to do the t-shirts like we do," said Gigli. "We've been doing them since the first year. It's so competitive. If we do something, Delaware's going to try it. With the competitive level of it all, schools have really begun to take strides to win it. It's against some pretty big campuses like Georgia State, but what we demonstrate is our ability to organize and motivate people to do this. And it's really fun."
Dr. Rebecca Gigli, Drexel's associate athletics director for academics, accepted the award on behalf of the University at the American Red Cross Blood Services Penn-Jersey annual meeting.
Winning the Colonial Athletic Association drive as well as having great turnouts in the other drives in 2006 helped Drexel gain recognition and the University of the Year award for the first time.
"Not only did we win the blood drive, but we became the Penn-Jersey University of the Year," said Gigli. "Each year we've been in the top two [in the CAA competition], which is pretty awesome. Every year, this is something we come to expect. We work together towards achieving our best possible results. We get a lot of great support from residential living, and Greek life. It's all about getting the word out and making a difference."
The numbers for the CAA Challenge alone increased substantially from 2005's totals. According to DrexelDragons.com, Drexel achieved a 16 percent increase in donations this year on the way to setting a regional record among all colleges and universities with a participation rate of 14 percent.
"Rebecca has used her motivational and organizational skills in order to bring a level of community support to the Drexel blood donation campaign, unlike anything seen in the corporate environment in Philadelphia," Athletics Director Dr. Eric Zillmer said. "For this tremendous achievement I salute her."
Other schools in the CAA have seen that Drexel is serious about the competition and have begun to employ similar ideas to get people involved. "I think other schools are starting to do the t-shirts like we do," said Gigli. "We've been doing them since the first year. It's so competitive. If we do something, Delaware's going to try it. With the competitive level of it all, schools have really begun to take strides to win it. It's against some pretty big campuses like Georgia State, but what we demonstrate is our ability to organize and motivate people to do this. And it's really fun."
