U awards $30,000 in scholarship video contest

The University of Minnesota announced the winners of its “Driven to Discover” student video contest Monday — with two students each awarded $5,000.

The University awarded $30,000 in scholarship assistance to the 16 students who received the most “likes” on the official University of Minnesota Facebook page.

Nearly 17,000 online votes later, first place went to Shawn Zwonar, from Edison, N.J., and second place to Robert Nordstrom of Eden Prairie, Minn. Each received the top prize of $5,000.

“I’m impressed with the skill and originality U of M students showcased in their video submissions,” Bob McMaster, vice provost and dean of undergraduate education, said in a press release.

“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.”

Students were asked to create a 30-second video showing what they are “Driven to Discover” while attending the University.

Zwonar, whose video received the most “likes,” used his 30 seconds to illustrate his 1,200-mile commute from New Jersey, the 40-plus gallons of fuel he uses and his determination to find alternative fuels.

“I didn’t put all my efforts into the video actually,” Zwonar said. “I put thought into what I was driven to discover and spent the rest of the time networking — just trying to get votes.”

Four undergraduates each received $2,500 for finishing third through sixth in the contest, but not all contestants viewed the competition as a “true video contest.”

“Some of the [videos] that won money only did because of their [voting campaign],” sixth-place and $2,500 winner Nicolas Hallett said. “[The contest] wasn’t judged on who made the better video, it was based on ‘likes.’ At the end of the day, it was a popularity contest.”

Hallet, a Byron, Minn. native, used editing skills he learned a semester ago and footage from his fraternity’s fundraising concert to show how he discovered “fundraising to be amazing.”

“I really think I had one of the better videos made,” Hallet said. “But, I didn’t just win because my video was good. I won because I had a lot of connections and help from many friends.”

The final 10 students were each awarded $1,000 in scholarship assistance for finishing seventh through 16th in the Facebook voting.

The undergraduates will have the prize money credited to their student accounts to pay off any bills from the University.