DREAM Big for College

Challenge:
The national conversation about community college student success and completion often includes elected officials, policy-makers, and practioners. Students are at the center of the education reform movement, yet their voice is often missing from the conversation.  

Solution:
Achieving the Dream is engaging students in the national conversation through a new student-centered campaign called "DREAM Big for College." The campaign leverages multiple platforms (Facebook and Twitter) to fast-track students' voices directly to the ear of influencers. Through DREAM Big for College, the nation is hearing from students about what it takes for them to stay in college and earn their certificate or degree. Launched in 2012 in conjunction with a T-shirt design contest and a student video contest, the campaign continues to leverage prize contests that engage students’ artistic and creative talents as they share their inspiring stories of triumph and hope, and provide their important perspective into the national reform movement. 

Past Contest: 

2nd Annual DREAM Big for College Student Design Contest

The Second Annual DREAM Big for College Student Design Contest was hosted on Achieving the Dream’s Facebook page, asked students at Achieving the Dream Institutions to create an image that evokes the overall theme of the contest, which is “DREAM Big for College.” Submissions should express creativity and initiative, and encourage other students to “finish what they start” in order to earn a college certificate or degree.

The student with the winning design received a $1,000 scholarship and hisdesign will be will be featured on the bags given to all 1,500 attendees of DREAM 2013, the annual convening of the Achieving the Dream National Reform Network. View the winning design here.
 

DREAM Big for College and Your Future Contest

Achieving the Dream, in partnership with GOOD and GOOD Maker, challenged community college students enrolled in Achieving the Dream Colleges nationwide to tell their stories for the chance to win one of three scholarships. The video challenge asked students: “What is your dream job and how is your college helping you get there?” and encouraging students at participating colleges to submit informal videos that tell of personal obstacles, inspiration, and connection to the programs offered to support graduation goals.

• View all 130+ videos
• View the top 10 videos, as well as additional stories from students who did not participate in the official contest 

DREAM Big for College Video Contest

Achieving the Dream challenged students to tell their story in a three minute video.  Made possible through partnerships with ISKME, CompletionMatters.org and StudentMentor.org, the contest asked students “What is keeping your dream of graduating alive?” Jessica Curtis, a student at Prince George's Community College in Maryland, was named Grand Prize Winner and received a $1,500 scholarship for her video focusing on advising, counseling, and tutoring services at her college. View all 40+ student video submissions here, and the news release announcing the winners here. 

DREAM Big for College T-Shirt Contest

The theme for the T-Shirt contest was “DREAM Big for College” which has been the larger mantra of the campaign to engage more students in the national conversation about student success and completion. Laura Shaler and Levi Miller beat out nearly 100 other students to have their design featured on two limited edition T-Shirts given to attendees at DREAM (Achieving the Dream's Annual Convening on Student Success). 

Contact: 
For questions related to the campaign and affiliated contests, please contact Achieving the Dream Associate Director of Communications Lauren Lewis.