(L-R) Dr. William Bynum, President, MVSU; Dawn Woods, MBS Delta Marketing Rep; Deborah Bynum, First Lady, MVSU; Marques McNeal, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity member, Zeta Phi Chapter; Dominique R. Burks, Scholarship Recipient; Kendietrich Tucker, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity President, Zeta Phi Chapter; Mr. Marion Boyd, Senior Vice President, Regions Bank
ITTA BENA, Miss. — Mississippi college sports inspire traditions and loyalty throughout the state and all schools contend for the coveted championships in their divisions. Students and alumni proudly support their schools but only a few obtain the status of campus heroes.
However, Mississippi Blood Services (MBS) knows everyone has a hero inside of them. Using the championship bowl games as a model, MBS proudly sponsors the annual Soul Bowl Blood Drives. Each year the friendly competition is held at Mississippi Valley State University, Jackson State University and Alcorn State University. The goal is to see which school can raise the most blood donations. The prize is a $1,500 scholarship to a student blood donor from the winning school, along with displaying the Soul Bowl Trophy and a year’s bragging rights.
The 2016 Soul Bowl winner is Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU). They had a total of 96 students register to donate blood. MVSU student Dominique Burks of Yazoo City is this year’s winner of the MBS scholarship. Domnique started donating blood while attending Yazoo City High School in 2013.
In 2014, MVSU was recognized by MBS as its College of the Year. MVSU has won fourteen out of the eighteen competitions due to hard work and efforts on part of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. - Zeta Phi Chapter.
“While only one school can claim the championship, all blood donors are heroes,” Dawn Woods, MBS marketing representative for the Delta said. “Donating blood saves lives. When high school and college students donate blood we hope they begin a lifelong commitment to MBS and Mississippi hospital patients. Dominique represents the best in Mississippi students.”
All donors must be at least 17 years old with signed parental consent, weigh at least 110 pounds and have a valid ID.
Mississippi Blood Services offers a “mini physical” before each donation to ensure the donation process is safe for the donor as well as the recipient.
Mississippi Blood Services ensures that donating blood is SAFE, SIMPLE and SAVES LIVES. For more information, contact (888) 90-BLOOD (888-902-5663), or visit our Web site at www.msblood.com.