University of Minnesota unveiled 'Driven to Discover' video contest winners

MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (01/23/2012) —The University of Minnesota today unveiled the winners of its “Driven to Discover” student video contest. The contest awarded $30,000 in scholarship assistance to 16 students who received the top number of “likes” on the official University of Minnesota Facebook page for their respective 30-second videos showing what they are “Driven to Discover.”

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The top two most “liked” videos for this contest were submitted by Shawn Zwonar and Robert Nordstrom. They each will be awarded $5,000. Zwonar and Nordstrom’s winning videos, along with the 14 other winners, can be viewed at http://discover.umn.edu/contest/winners.html.

The video contest is a facet of the university’s “Driven to Discover” marketing campaign, which highlights the distinct experience students receive when they attend the U of M. This experience includes exposure to world-class faculty and a wide array of learning opportunities to make their own self-discoveries, be they new solar systems, cures for diseases or an untold form of dance.

“I’m impressed with the skill and originality U of M students showcased in their video submissions,” said Bob McMaster, vice provost and dean of undergraduate education. “These students only reflect a few of the thousands of talented and enthusiastic U of M undergraduates who are driven to discover great things each semester.”

Prizewinners are:

$5,000
Shawn Zwonar (Edison, N.J.)
Robert Nordstrom (Eden Prairie, Minn.)

$2,500
Meghan Palmer (Dallas, Texas)
Annie Favreau (Plymouth, Minn.)
Ryan Goltz (South Milwaukee, Wis.)
Nicholas Hallett (Byron, Minn.)

$1,000
Daniel Worku (St. Paul, Minn.)
Brian Butterfield (Rochester, Minn.)
Rachel Nelson (Big Lake, Minn.)
Baylen N Wagner (North Prairie, Wis.)
Nicole Huo (Minneapolis, Minn.)
Michael Garlinghouse (Maple Plain, Minn.)
Joel Valdez (Janesville, Wis.)
Nathan Wong (Moorhead, Minn.)
Adam Hoffman (White Bear Lake, Minn.)
Kevin Nguenkam (Douala, Cameroon)


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  • Last modified on January 23, 2012