Transfer Student Wins YouTube-Fueled Harper Scholarship Contest
Charlette Jauch launched her higher education journey at Harper College, working toward associate degrees in art and science before transferring to Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville.
Her story, which she hopes will culminate in a doctorate in veterinary medicine, isn't unusual; several hundred Harper students transfer to four-year colleges every year. When she put her experience on video, though, it was worth $1,500.
Jauch is the winner of Harper's YouTube-fueled summer contest, which had entrants upload a video of their educational summer plans and compete for YouTube views.
Her entry, which showed her solving a complex mathematical equation and donning a lab coat for her summer job as an undergraduate chemical researcher, nabbed more than 5,600 views. She beat out a host of other entries, including a student telling his story in rap form and another singing her tale as she accompanied herself on piano.
The submitted videos received a combined 20,000 views by the contest's end.
“The whole video was improv, and I had a blast making it,” says Jauch, who relied on family, friends, and SIU's chemistry department to bolster her view tally. “It was a way for me to express to the community how Harper College has helped me accomplish so much.”
While on campus, Jauch – the granddaughter of one of Harper's first professors and the daughter of a Harper grad – was a member of the Hawks' Track and Field team, breaking the 2007 NJCAA record in the pole vault. She also earned a green belt in judo and helped out with the Astronomy Club.
“I have never met such a great group of students and faculty as I have at Harper College,” said Jauch, a Medinah resident. “The people there want you to succeed, and are willing to help you reach your goals.”
She'll use her winnings to pay for Harper online courses toward her bachelor's degree.
The contest's second-place winner, Courtney Renwick, received a $1,000 scholarship; her video showed friends, classmates and others sharing what they believed in, from family to world peace.