MONTGOMERY, Alabama (November 21, 2012) – In Alabama’s second year of involvement in the Real World Design Challenge, a national aerospace engineering and design competition, Lt. Governor Kay Ivey proudly announced that Alabama leads all states with fifty teams registered to compete. The participation represents a significant increase from nineteen teams who registered in the first state competition in 2012.

The fifty teams, from thirty-two Alabama High Schools and the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, will compete in an aviation challenge or a new surface challenge category added this year.

The teams, made up of 3-7 students, must conceptualize and design a Small Unmanned Aircraft System or design and evaluate efficiency improvements for a baseline tractor trailer. The students must also develop a business plan in support of commercial applications.

Alabama State University and Tuskegee University will face off in a good-natured rivalry for a good cause in the annual Turkey Day Blood Drive competition between the schools.  The university with the highest percentage of blood donations wins.

Blood will be collected from faculty, staff and students on both campuses from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Nov. 19. ASU’s event will be held in the concourse of the Dunn-Oliver Acadome.

The public is invited to come out and give blood.

Each donor will receive a special T-shirt, while they last, with their school logo. There also will be free food.

LifeSouth Community Blood Center is sponsoring the event. ASU’s facilitators are the Alpha Kappa Psi Professional Business Fraternity, Inc. and the BioMed Club.

We ask the ASU Family to come out and bleed for your school and show your true Hornet Spirit.