LaGrange and Young Harris students are up for Best Video in UMCYes! contest

Why does the United Methodist connection matter to schools, colleges, and universities? Thirty-four students at 25 UM-related schools created shor videos answering why for the UMCYes! video contest.
 
Of the seven finalists, two are from Georgia schools: William Arnold from LaGrange College and Logan Gray of Young Harris College.

Other finalists are Ashley Britton, Louisburg College; Alex Deeter, North Central College; Kahla Johnson, Otterbein University; Krista McKinney, Centenary College of Louisiana; and Markeisha Nesbitt, Spartanburg Methodist College.

View the 7 finalists and cast your vote  at www.umcyes.com. First, second, and third-place winners will be selected by popular vote. Voting ends at midnight Thursday, Nov. 1.
 
“You can watch the 7 videos and choose your favorite in approximately 20 minutes, as no video exceeds 3 minutes in length,” said Melanie Overton, assistant general secretary of Schools, Colleges, and Universities for the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry’s Division of Higher Education.
 
The number of entries exceeded the contest goal by 70 percent and students from about one-third of the 110 higher education institutions that are members of the National Association of Schools and Colleges of The United Methodist Church (NASCUMC) entered the contest.

“Broad participation was critical to achieving our ultimate purpose, which is to learn how students on a variety of UM-related campuses view the connection to The United Methodist Church,” Overton said.
 
The winner will receive a GoPro HeroHD Camera, FinalCut ProX Software, and individual coaching in direction, cinematography, and editing. In addition, 22 institutions offered matching prizes ranging from a $250 gift certificate to the school’s bookstore to a private screening of the video and dinner for eight friends at the president’s home.
 
“Each video represents how a specific student experiences the connection rather than representing the whole of what a particular campus provides. So it is a slice of the campus connection, and it is that student’s personal slice,” says Overton.
 
Jay Simmons, president of NASCUMC, believes this is an important project for the organization, especially the work of assisting CEOs and The United Methodist Church in understanding what it means to be in connection with each other.
 
“Students who have experienced the connection have tremendous insight to share,” says Simmons. “Our task now is to analyze what patterns and themes emerge as being common to students’ experience of United Methodist-related education at these very different NASCUMC institutions.”