Virginia Tech wants to know: What does it mean to live the life of a Hokie?
On Sept. 28, Tech launched a student contest titled "True Life: I'm a Hokie," to create and induce excitement for the students by having them record videos of themselves describing what they think it means to be a Hokie. The contest also raises awareness to Tech's YouTube site, something that many may not know Tech has.
Director of Visual and Broadcast Communication Randy Stith said the contest was something the university thought of a few years back, but never got off the ground until now.
"Back in November of 2006, the governor started a YouTube site and he asked other state agencies if they would add sites as well," Stith said. "So that's when we first set up the site. At that time, director of marketing for the university thought it would be good to have a YouTube contest."
The process was interrupted by April 16.
"So they just started preliminaries of that and then the we had the tragedy so it never happened. We got around to thinking we should do something with this thing. We got a couple interns from the communication department who could work on this for us and we wanted them to publicize the site itself -- so they decided to resurrect this contest."
Stith said that the site was not very well known and students don't really know what the channel has to offer. There are university videos posted from aspects of Tech such as athletics, a 1960 film clip about the Corps of Cadets and the tribute concert featuring Dave Matthews Band.
"A lot of universities put on lectures and such, and we are taking a different approach and trying to have some fun with it," Stith said.
The videos are to be posted up through Tech's YouTube site. Students from all campuses and graduate students are able to participate, but videos cannot be more than two minutes long. Judges are looking for creative and inspiring stories to capture values in students that Tech prides itself on.
Senior communication major Sarah Rothe is one of the interns who helped create the contest and put the site together.
"We wanted to get what embodies a Hokie from the student perspective, because we thought that would be the best way to communicate what the university is about," Rothe said. "We want people to show their own unique Hokie style. If you are in fencing, show that part of yourself. Show what you are involved in. We wanted a contest to show what VT has to offer."
Rothe said the site has had thousands of hits, but no submissions yet. She expects the students to submit their videos toward the contest's deadline.
University Relations has selected a variety of judges for the contest. Members of the panel include award-winning filmmaker and Tech alumnus Tim Leaton, known for his work with short films and his work as a production assistant in one of this summer's blockbusters, "Tropic Thunder." Susan Mattingly, executive director of the Lyric, will also be on the panel.
Three winning videos will win cash prizes, with first place taking home $500, second place $250, and third $100. In addition to the cash prize, the first place winner's video will be shown in a preview slot during a film at the Lyric and will also be announced at the Tech/UVa football game at Lane Stadium on Nov. 29.
"The videos that have the most views we will pick from, so obviously the student body will be helping out," Rothe said. "We want out of the box thinking, creativity is key. We don't want "Enter Sandman" - that's been done over and over. We want something we haven't seen before that communicates the lifestyle of a Hokie," Rothe said.