Despite some early rain, the 41st annual Quad Day gave hundreds of student organizations a chance to promote themselves to students at the University.

Scott Carrico, event coordinator and Student Organization Resource Fee program adviser, said he estimated 10,000 to 12,000 students attended Quad Day.

“It’s the most important recruiting day of the year,” he said.

About 650 organizations set up tables across the entire Quad, each doing what it could to get the attention of students passing by.

“We have our horns set out to attract people,” said Sara Timberlake, sophomore in FAA, who was on the Quad representing the Illini Contraband, a campus cover band.

Other groups handed out candy, pens or key chains as students signed up to receive information by email.

New to Quad Day this year was the demonstration area, between Noyes and Davenport halls, where groups with more hands-on presentations set up. Pride had a meet-and-greet event, while others had demonstrations ranging from science to dance.

Representatives from the Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network also had tents set up on the Quad as they attempted to break the Guinness World Record for the most people to sign up to be an organ donor in one day. According to the afternoon tally around 3 p.m., the record, 765 donors, had already been broken, spokesman Tony Sullivan said.

Philip Robertson, adjudicator for the Guinness Book of World Records, said he anticipated that the record would be made official by Sunday evening.

The Illini Union hosts the event every year, and Liezl Bowman, marketing director at the Illini Union, said Quad Day offers students the opportunity to meet new people and reconnect with old friends.

“Imagine how big the Quad is, and you still find each other somehow,” Bowman said.