Two Valencia students were chosen from 200 contestants to appear in a video series called, “Take America to College.” Charnee Ball, a navy veteran, and Kathryn McCormick, a single mother who waitresses 35 hours a week, will reveal their struggles in getting through college along with five other nontraditional students. The series is produced by Purple States, a media company that produces and distributes videos that put a human face on policy challenges. The creators hope to air the segments this spring on a major news site. They can also be seen at http://www.takeamericatocollege.com/.
Ball and McCormick will travel with the other finalists to Washington, D.C., to share their stories and concerns with policymakers about whether current initiatives to increase graduation rates are helping or whether more needs to be done. The finalists will also earn $500 and receive a video camera. Valencia was the only college to have two students selected for the series. East Campus faculty helped the students produce the audition videos that they submitted.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnkFpby0-DQ&feature=player_embedded
Kathryn McCormick, Valencia Student
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glud7M6QZO4
Charnee Ball, Valencia Student: