COM Student Video Wins Cash Prize
A group of Prof. Kathryn Burak's BU COM 201 students won the Grand Prize in the Screening for Mental Health PSA contest to encourage students to take an online screening for eating disorders. The winners included Corey Blumenthal (COM '15), Ben Eisen (COM '15), John-Michael Sedor (COM '15), and Merry Lo (COM '15).
The Mental Health PSA contest administrators said the following:
“We love that your video brings awareness to a lesser discussed eating disorder and depicts a stressful scene that most college students can identify with. You did a great job!
"The PSA will be used through our social media networks and this year’s National Eating Disorder Screening Program campaign. Next year, your PSA will be included in the 2012-2013 National Eating Disorder PSA DVD, which is sent to hundreds of colleges.”
Students worked on the contest as part of their assignments for COM 201, with the winning group netting $500. Six classes participated--around 120 students from BU submitted entries. Last semester, two groups of COM 201 students also won 2nd and 3rd prize in a similar PSA contest (this one encouraging students to take an online screening for depression).
"Entering contests like these help spread the word that BU is a great place to be a communications student," Burak said. "Students have walked away with cash prizes, but also with a great credential for their résumés and some good experience in creating advocacy material for a real-life client."
Additional links
- Explore communications opportunities at Boston University.
- Learn more about the COM Writing Program.
- Visit COM's graduate admissions page.
