COD Student from Naperville Wins $100,000 Dr. Pepper Tuition Giveaway
College of DuPage student Kotryna Staputyte of Naperville held her focus during half-time of the PAC 12 championship football game to win a $100,000 scholarship through the Dr. Pepper Tuition Giveaway.
Staputyte and one other finalist had 30 seconds to throw the most footballs into a large Dr. Pepper can-shaped receptacle. Their tallies remained close, with Staputyte pulling away in the final seconds to win by one completed toss, 17 to 16.
"One of the Dr. Pepper representatives told me ahead of time that the competition would feel like an out-of-body experience," she said. "I zoned everything out of my mind. I just tried my best and got my technique going. It felt weird winning, because at first I didn't think I did it."
Staputyte is one of four students nationwide to win a $100,000 scholarship. She initially was one of 16 finalists and traveled to California with three others. The four competed in the first round of the challenge, from which two advanced to the final round at the PAC-12 championship game on Dec. 5. By making it to the final round, she was guaranteed $20,000 in tuition money.
"Isaac Castillo, the other student who made it to the final round, and I gave each other a big hug before going onto the field. We were both happy to make it that far and knew we both were leaving with a significant amount of money that would change our futures," she said. "It was great meeting all of the finalists and being with like-minded people who are excited about the future and who want to make a difference."
The annual Dr. Pepper Tuition Giveaway invites students to briefly state how they want to change the world, which is what attracted Staputyte, a Presidential Scholar at College of DuPage. In her submission, called "Give Every Child a Chance," Staputyte wrote: "My best friend (Dominykas) has a developmental disability. I have witnessed him improve his skills drastically since his time in the U.S., due to the medicine he has obtained and the amazing support system and friendships he has developed. I strive to be the first doctor in my family to improve the lives of children worldwide who are impacted by disabilities."
After her submission received more than 50 votes online, she was eligible to make a short video and submit it in hopes of being selected as a finalist. The video was shot by her friend Matt Miltonberger, who is a fellow College of DuPage student in the Motion Picture/TV program. Another friend in COD's Engineering program, Tom Almassey, built a facsimile of the Dr. Pepper receptacle can, and COD football coach Matt Foster and quarterback Devin O'Hara helped Staputyte with her throwing technique. Click here to watch the video.
Dominykas was on her mind after she won the challenge, and Staputyte thanked him when being interviewed on ESPN.
"It was Dominykas' story that inspired all of this, and I hope that my story inspires others to think about their goals and their dreams for the future," she said. "And I have to thank Dr. Pepper for what they have done. It started because I saw their ad on Facebook, and it's cool to be part of a project where tens of thousands of students across the country share their stories and their hopes about changing the world."