When Nicholas Giannamore isn’t taking classes toward an accounting degree, he’s out promoting the importance of organ donation. A two-time kidney transplant recipient, Giannamore is one of several Wayne State students volunteering to add new names to the Michigan organ donor registry.

Wayne State and other colleges throughout the state are vying to save lives as part of the Gift of Life Campus Challenge, one of the most successful organ donation college outreach programs in the nation.

“I’m volunteering to honor my donor and her family,” Giannamore said. “By registering, you could help a lot of people. The person on the receiving end would be very grateful.”

Since 2012, the university has gone undefeated, winning the trophy for adding the most names to the donor registry. Over the years, the WSU community has been inspired by the memory of student Rebecca Joy Butler, daughter of associate business professor Timothy Butler.

Rebecca was pursuing a marketing degree at Wayne State when she was diagnosed with a rare lung disease. While waiting for a transplant, she learned that 100,000 people were also awaiting organs and made it her mission to start a donor registry at WSU. She died in May 2011 at the age of 20, still waiting for a lung.

Since then, her Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority sisters and other student groups have teamed up to spread the word about the need for donors through email messages, social media, public service announcements, posters and at donor registry stations throughout campus.

"Organ donation, to me, is the simplest way to impact an entire community,” said Alyssa Krieger, Alpha Gamma Delta activities coordinator. “After taking 30 seconds to sign up, I have the ability to change the lives of up to 58 people. I am part of something so much bigger than myself."

In 2015, the generosity of Michigan's 285 organ donors resulted in more than 800 life-saving organ transplants. As of Jan. 1, 2016, more than 3,500 Michigan patients are waiting for a transplant.

The Gift of Life Campus Challenge concludes Feb. 24. Register online or in person at a registration event. Also visit the group's Facebook page.