On Oct. 4, San Diego State will participate in the second annual National Student Day, a countrywide initiative, to promote community involvement on college campuses.

The initiative, which is put together by the National Association of College Stores, is known for rewarding students in the community for their submitted volunteer hours.

Last year, approximately 160 SDSU students participated, collecting more than 600 volunteer hours according to Aztec Shops marketing manager Ben Eisenstein. At the event hosted by Associated Students Student Life and Leadership and the SDSU Bookstore, more than $2,000 worth in prizes was awarded. This year, first-place winners will receive free textbooks for a semester and runner-ups will get a $1,000 SDSU Bookstore gift card.

According to Eisenstein, this year’s goal is to beat last year’s results by 50 percent. Eisenstein says he expects 234 volunteers, 940.5 volunteer hours and hopes to see more than 200 attendees the day of the event.

Last year, Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity won in the group category, with a total of 340 volunteer hours. The fraternity earned hours at a paddle-out for clean water with the Surfrider Foundation, volunteering at a family health center downtown and participating in the Adopt-A-Highway program.

According to Sigma Phi Epsilon Community Service chairman Maxwell Louie, the fraternity will participate again this year, contributing hours from last week’s sponsor of the San Diego Blood Bank drive. The blood drive brought in 93 donors and 77 pints of blood, reaching 150 patients and families.

Last year’s first place individual prize went to Nikki Mayer, who submitted 49 hours.

National Student Day will take place from 1-1:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 4 inside the SDSU Bookstore. Hosts will provide refreshments and discounts on SDSU merchandise all day. Attendees are not required to submit volunteer hours to participate in the event. The last day to submit hours is Friday.