The University of Wisconsin is vamping up blood drive efforts this week as part of the American Red Cross Big Ten Blood Drive Challenge, which pits conference schools against each other to raise the most blood in one month.

The challenge, which started Jan. 19 and concludes Feb. 19, is one way the American Red Cross encourages students to make an extra effort to donate, during a typically difficult time for them to collect blood. The blood drive challenge plays into the Big Ten rivalry as well, local Red Cross Blood Services spokesperson Tara Warden said.

“The Big Ten Blood Drive Challenge will enable students to show their school spirit while supporting a good cause during difficult winter months,” Warden said.

The main feature of UW’s campus blood drives is the annual Bucky’s Big Ten Blood Drive which will be held Tuesday and Wednesday at Ogg Hall, Warden said.

She added more than 300 appointments have already been scheduled for both days, while the Red Cross expects numerous walk-in donors. Walk-in donations, however, could face significant wait times.

“Red Cross staff will be hard at work, to ensure that each presenting donor has a safe, enjoyable experience, while helping to save up to three lives with each donation,” Warden said.

Each donor will receive a free T-shirt and refreshments after his or her donation, she added.

She noted students without appointments could donate at a different campus blood drive, where donations will also count toward the challenge, before Feb. 19.

Other blood drives part of the Big Ten Challenge will be held at Gordon Commons, Liz Waters and Carson Gulley.

Blood challenges between schools have been popular in the past and students have historically shown they are eager to donate blood, despite challenges associated with blood donations, Warden said.

UW sophomore Abby Nikolay has donated blood 10 times and will be donating at Liz Waters. She said she thinks the challenge will get more people to donate blood for a good cause.

Nikolay said though there are drawbacks to giving blood, she has always found it fulfilling.

A UW press release said awards go to universities with the highest number of blood donations, highest percentage of the student population donating blood and the highest percent of goal achievement, determined by the school’s goal and the actual number of pints donated.

Warden said, so far, Penn State is in position to win the first two award categories, while UW could win the third category, as it is in second place before the Bucky drive.

She said as of Friday, the Red Cross has collected 266 units of blood from UW students, with nearly every drive that is a part of the challenge totaling at or over its goal. She added the Red Cross has set a goal to collect at least 845 units at UW, and nearly 7,000 collectively among the Big Ten Schools.