Photo: Finalists Larissa Simpson, Dekunle Somade and Devin Valencia. (MTV)
We asked you to tell us how to make college more affordable. You did. Tomorrow, one young innovator's great idea will be brought to life by MTV and The College Board with a $100,000 grant and the winner will walk away with a $10,000 prize. Former Prez Bill Clinton will make the big announcement at his annual Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI-U) conference, and you can be a part of it!
Watch the announcement and panel discussion streamed live online starting at 5:30 PM ET/2:30 PM PT. You can also follow the conversation on Twitter--we'll be live-tweeting from @MTVact using the hashtag #CGIU.
As part of the College Affordability Challenge, hundreds of young people from across 48 states submitted proposals for projects that would take some of the sting out of applying for and paying for college, a process that can be daunting if not flat-out discouraging.
Clinton recently wrote:
"An issue this urgent and complex requires more than federal legislation alone. It demands innovation for affordability, and a fundamental rethinking of the delivery system for higher education in America.
"We can no longer compromise our nation's need for human capital with an inefficient, costly system of higher education, and we can no longer thwart the next generation's capacity for success by forcing them to choose between insufficient education and insurmountable debt."
Word.
To recap, here are your finalists. Don't forget to tune in tomorrow to catch the winner announced live at CGI-U.
Larissa Simpson: This 24-year-old New School (NYC) prospective graduate student created FUNDING QUEST, a game that helps users get comfortable understanding the daunting world of college financing by tackling it virtually first.
Dekunle Somade: A senior at the University of Maryland, Somade's project, FIRST AID, is an SMS platform that streamlines any and all relevant online info for low-income prospective college students.
Devin Valencia: A recent University of Nevada graduate, 24-year-old Valencia designed CONNECT FUND, a Facebook app that lets users interact, ask questions and get demographic-specific tips and info.
actTAKE ACTION!
Tune In
Catch the announcement live on Saturday, and see who walks away with the $10k prize!
