University, Pa. -- The Center for Sustainability and Media Commons at Penn State have launched a video contest to ignite a richer, deeper conversation around sustainability at Penn State. Open to all students, faculty, and staff, the contest challenges Penn Staters to tap into their own happiness to create a more sustainable world -- and win up to $1,000.
“It’s named the ‘Sustainable State’ contest not just because we’re Penn State, but because we’re working to achieve a sustainable state, where people thrive in healthy balance with one another and the natural world,” said David Riley, director of the Center for Sustainability.
Riley hopes the contest will help people in the Penn State community reflect on what makes them truly happy. “It’s those things that people naturally want to sustain, and propagate in the world,” he said.
Riley also hopes the contest will help steer the sustainability conversation to a more positive direction, and cited a 2-minute YouTube video, “Educating for Gross National Happiness,” featuring Penn State alumnus Jigme Y. Thinley, The Prime Minister of Bhutan, as a major inspiration.
The Media Commons will provide contestants with free access to equipment, training and studios, along with online tools for uploading and voting for videos.
Entrants must make a video up to 3 minutes long in one of two categories: “Sustainable You” (focusing on personal stories) or “Sustainable U” (focusing on visions of a sustainable Penn State). First, second and third place cash prizes will be awarded in each category, of $1,000, $500 and $250, respectively.
Videos must be submitted by April 15. Twelve finalists will be selected by a jury of judges and presented for a week of public online public voting starting with a public screening on Earth Day.
For complete guidelines and instructions, visit http://tinyurl.com/25t8sf8 online.
To view a video announcing the contest, visit Sustainable State’s YouTube page at http://tinyurl.com/25plbvw online.