Announcing SODA’s 2024 Campus Challenge Winners

Written by Sophia Renner, Engagement Manager

This year’s Campus Challenge brought together an inspiring group of student advocates from high schools, colleges, and graduate schools across the country. Their passion was undeniable as they came together to champion organ, eye, and tissue donation while celebrating registered donors. 🏆🎉

The Campus Challenge ran from August 20 to November 17, 2024, uniting 27 student-led teams eager to make a life-saving impact. Teams included both existing SODA chapters and enthusiastic newcomers who earned points by hosting donor registration drives, organizing educational events, partnering with their local Organ Procurement Organizations (OPOs), and using social media to amplify the importance of donation.

Check out the full list of point-winning activities here.

With $500 and exclusive SODA-branded merch up for grabs, these students brought their A game, showing off their school spirit as they raised awareness for organ, eye, and tissue donation.

The 2024 SODA Campus Challenge competitors were:

Albemarle High School

Amarillo High School

Bellarmine University

Blythewood High School

Brookfield East High School

Carroll High School

Carmel High School

College of William and Mary

Crosstown High School

Duke University School of Medicine

George Steinbrenner High School

Homestead High School

Louisiana State University

Northeastern University

St. Mary’s Ryken High School

The University of Alabama

University of Colorado Boulder

University of Massachusetts Amherst

University of Michigan

University of Virginia

University School of Milwaukee

Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia Tech

Warren County Career Center - Atrium Campus

Warsaw Community High School

West Virginia University

Windsor High School

During the challenge, these 27 teams left an incredible mark, reaching 23,389 people through education about organ, eye, and tissue donation—and they didn’t stop there! They also registered 278 new donors. A huge shoutout to these amazing teams for making a real difference for those hoping for a second chance at life. 🎉

After three months of remarkable dedication and creative advocacy, we’re thrilled to reveal the winners of SODA’s 2024 Campus Challenge. Let’s hear that drumroll… 🥁🥁🥁

The high school team in first place is Warren County Career Center - Atrium Campus!

SODA at Warren County Career Center - Atrium Campus took organ donation advocacy to the next level with their campus-wide newsletter, which shared monthly updates on chapter activities, included direct links to the online donor registry, and amassed over 400 views. They also launched a “Myth Mondays” tradition, visiting homerooms to discuss myths and misconceptions surrounding donation. And that’s not all—they brought their passion into their wider community as well. The chapter partnered with their local OPO, Network for Hope, for a “Trunk or Treat” event where they spoke to over 200 people about donation, tabled at the Ohio School Board Association’s Student Achievement Fair, and even encouraged students at the University of Cincinnati to start their own SODA chapter. These diverse initiatives are a true testament to the team's passion for raising awareness about organ, eye, and tissue donation.

Now, get ready to cheer because the award for registering the most donors also goes to… Warren County Career Center - Atrium Campus! 🎉 These superstar students registered an impressive 115 donors during the Campus Challenge. Congratulations!

The college team in first place is the University of Colorado Boulder!

SODA at the University of Colorado Boulder shone a spotlight on donation education through their partnership with Donor Alliance, their local OPO. They teamed up to host several informative sessions on facilitating sensitive conversations about donation, explored organ perfusion technology, and even gained hands-on experience with donor care using a medical simulator. The team also made a strong impact on their community, inviting a liver donor and recipient duo to speak during Liver Awareness Month, and later welcoming two heart transplant recipients and a cornea recipient. They reached out to their peers at their campus’ “Be Involved Fair,” sharing the importance of donation advocacy and connecting with potential new chapter members. And to round it all off, they held a chapter meeting to cover the basics of SODA and organ, eye, and tissue donation. This team has truly gone above and beyond to raise awareness and inspire others to take action!

The graduate school team in first place is Duke University School of Medicine!

SODA at Duke University School of Medicine teamed up with Dr. Stuart Knechtle, a renowned kidney/pancreas transplant surgeon and researcher, to educate their peers about the history of transplant medicine and surgery. Together, they explored the origins of transplantation, the groundbreaking discovery of transplant-revolutionizing drugs, and the establishment of the organ allocation system in the US through The National Organ Transplant Act of 1984. The team also welcomed Dr. Aparna Rege to discuss disparities in recipient eligibility and donor origin as well as promising advances aimed at expanding the donor pool and improving donor accessibility. To encourage their peers to register as organ donors, they shared eye-catching infographics around campus with QR codes linking to the online registry. They have truly elevated the conversation on donation education and advocacy!

Let’s raise our glasses (or sodas 😉) to all our incredible Campus Challenge teams for their unmatched energy and dedication. They’ve shown that saving lives isn’t just a goal—it’s a legacy we’re creating together.

The Campus Challenge was an absolute blast, and we couldn't have pulled it off without our amazing Campus Challenge Committee members—Kim Charles, Logan Miller, and Craig Smith.

The Campus Challenge was an unforgettable experience, and we couldn’t have done it without the unwavering support of our phenomenal sponsors: the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO), Second Chance Fundraising, the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), and Hearts for Russ.

To everyone who made this event a success—whether you were a sponsor, a dedicated OPO partner, or one of our amazing student advocates—thank you! Your enthusiasm for organ donation advocacy and school spirit has helped heal and save lives. Together, we’ve achieved something truly remarkable, and we’re so grateful to have you as part of this journey.