For the second time in three years, The University of Southern Mississippi has won the Donor Challenge for 2014. This challenge is an organ and tissue donation awareness campaign made possible by the Mississippi Organ Recovery Agency (MORA), according to a USM press release. The College of Health Ambassadors spearheaded the registration drive and awareness campaign on campus.

“We are thrilled and humbled by the incredible effort put forth by The University of Southern Mississippi,” said Charlotte Mullinnix, director of MORA Outreach Services in a USM press release.
She said from the beginning, USM’s College of Health Ambassadors would take back the Donor Challenge title by conquering both Ole Miss and Mississippi State.

From Sept. 15 through Oct. 17, Southern Miss competed against Ole Miss and Mississippi State to see which university could register the most organ and tissue donors, according to the press release.

Scoring combined new registrants and a point system for registrants from the 2012 and 2013 challenges. The scores include the following:

First: Southern Miss, 390 points (278 new donors and 448 existing designations)
Second: Ole Miss, 200.5 points (106 new donors, 378 existing designations)
Third: Mississippi, 177.75 points (114 new donors, 255 existing designations)

The College of Health Ambassadors will receive a $500 donation from MORA after attaining all Donor Challenge performance standards that included a volunteer training session, a minimum of four registration events and a minimum of 150 new donor designations, according to the press release.