Win this contest, and down-size your student loan

/Home/Private Student Loans and Lenders/Sallie Mae/Upromise

Win this contest, and down-size your student loan
May 15, 2009 07:47


Say hello to Boston's Sara Tollerson (above). She has a guitar, a flair for songwriting - and way too much college debt - so she's looking to to help pay off her student loans as a subway chanteuse, crooning her songs to the CharlieCard commuter crowd.

Tollerson, 24, is also one of 12 finalists in a Tuition-Tales video contest sponsored by Upromise, a Newton company that has devised a rewards program that helps parents save for college through everyday purchases. Three winners in the competition will receive $10,000 that can be used for such educational purposes as paying off loans, Upromise said.

The video that tops this post is Tollerson's entry for the contest. The video was provided by Upromise.

Over the next week, visitors to www.tuition-tales.com can vote on which of the videos they like the best, and the voting will help decide the winner, Upromise said.

"The finalists emerged from a field of 700 valid entries, nearly triple the 250 videos entered last year," Upromise said in a press release. "The winners in three categories - Saving for College, In College Now, and Paying It Back - are expected to be announced May 20. Entrants submitted 30-second videos, which were judged on quality, fit to theme, and creativity."

Upromise is a wholly owned subsidiary of SLM Corp., which is also known as Sallie Mae, a provider of college savings-and-loans programs.

“With so many incredibly creative and heartfelt entries, judging was challenging,” David Rochon, president of Upromise, said in a statement. “The tremendous number of entries underscores the growing need for tuition solutions as college costs skyrocket. Tuition Tales is just one way Upromise and Sallie Mae are putting a spotlight on how Americans can achieve their higher education goals.”
(By Chris Reidy, Globe staff)