LA JOLLA, Calif. – The UC San Diego Athletics Department held its annual blood drive on Wednesday and the event proved to be a huge success once again as a total of 163 individuals came out to RIMAC to donate.

Now in its 11th year, the department blood drive is coordinated with Triton Athletes' Council (TAC) and organized in conjunction with the American Red Cross. The athletics department's blood drive has been the Red Cross's number one single day drive at UCSD for the past five years and UC San Diego was the top donating campus in California in 2010.

More than 85% of Wednesday's donations came from Triton student-athletes and staff members and early indications pointed to this being the most productive drive in the 11 year-history of the event. Last year, UCSD brought in a total of 128 usable units.

"The turnout of student-athletes, coaches and staff for this event is gratifying, particularly since 2010-11 is the University's 50th Anniversary and the campus has placed such an emphasis on community service during the year," UCSD Senior Associate Athletics Director Ken Grosse said. "This is one of the many ways our department will be supporting that effort."

For more information on UCSD's 50th Anniversary celebration, visit: www.50th.ucsd.edu.

To view photos from this years event please click here.