Freedom Video Competition

The FREEDOM Video Competition invites Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) students who are sophomores, juniors, and seniors – at participating institutions – to creatively express their journey in financing their college education. This unique competition Focuses on Reducing and Eliminating Educational Debt and Optimizing Mindfulness (FREEDOM) through a 3-5 minute documentary. Students are encouraged to explore and share how they found the Student Freedom Fund to finance their college education.

Enter Your Video in the 2025 FREEDOM Competition

Undergraduate STEM students at our participating institutions will answer the prompt question, “What made you consider the Student Freedom Fund (SFF) to finance your college education?” within a three to five-minute video. The video must also answer one of the sub-topics below:

• Did you consult with your school’s faculty or staff to help decide how to fund your education?
• Did you take out Federal Direct Loans?
• Did you consider other lenders in your search?
• If you considered private loans, how did the interest rate and terms compare to the Student Freedom Fund?
• Have your parents applied for Parent PLUS Loans for your education this year or in previous years?

Submissions will be accepted from Tuesday, October 15, 2024, at 11:59 pm EST, and are due no later than Wednesday, January 15, 2025, at 11:59 pm EST.

ELIGIBILITY

• Entry Limit: One entry per individual. Multiple entries, including through different email addresses or identities, will lead to disqualification.
• Video Specifications: 3-5 minute video that must mention the main topic question along with one subtopic question
• Must be a Student Freedom Loan Agreement recipient
• Must provide an unofficial transcript 
• Academic Level: Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors
• Eligible Majors: Approved STEM majors.
• Enrollment Status: Full Time at one of our participating schools
• Academic Status: Undergraduate
• GPA Requirement: Meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (as defined by university)
• Additional Requirements: If under 18, consent from parent/legal guardian is required; Must submit a complete W-9 form (for winners only)
• International & Foreign Exchange Students are not eligible for this competition
• Please note that if your video is found to include any copyright infringement, it will be disqualified.

Competition Rules

1. ELIGIBILITY. The FREEDOM Video Competition (the “Video Competition”) is open to students who are enrolled full-time at one of the Student Freedom Initiatives’ (“SFI”) participating schools and a recipient of the Student Freedom Agreement (SFA) or Student Freedom Loan Agreement (SFLA). Students must be meeting satisfactory academic progress as defined by the entrant’s school. International students and foreign exchange students authorized to enter the U.S. on a non-immigrant visa are ineligible to enter the Video Competition. Any entrant who is under 18 years of age or otherwise under the legal age of majority in the jurisdiction in which the entrant resides (a “Minor”) must obtain permission to enter this Video Competition from their parent or legal guardian (“Parent”), and the agreement of the Parent to these Official Rules. An entry submitted by a Minor shall be deemed submitted by the Parent and shall be treated as if the Parent had made such entry. Minor entrants and their Parents may be required to sign and return an Acknowledgement and Release.
2. HOW TO ENTER. From Tuesday, October 15, 2024, 11:59 pm EST, through Wednesday, January 15, 2025, 11:59 pm EST, entrants can submit their videos along with their completed application by following the instructions listed on the FREEDOM Video Competition webpage. Failure to comply with these instructions or these Official Rules, or failure to complete an application may result in your entry being disqualified at our sole discretion. Only one entry per individual is permitted. Individuals who enter multiple times, including through multiple email addresses or identities will be disqualified at our sole discretion. By entering this Video Competition, the entrant accepts and agrees to these Official Rules and the decisions of the judges and SFI, which shall be final in all matters.
3. VIDEOS. Each video must be between 3-5 minutes in length. Entrants may not submit videos that contain any elements that violate a third party’s intellectual property rights or other rights, or that depict individuals that have not granted express permission to be depicted. 
4. COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT AND DISQUALIFICATION. Participants must ensure that all content used in their video submissions, including music, images, and footage, complies with copyright laws. Any use of copyrighted material without proper authorization, licensing, or permission from the rightful owner will be considered copyright infringement. Videos found to contain unauthorized or infringing content will be subject to immediate disqualification from the video competition. It is the responsibility of each participant to secure the necessary rights for all media used in their videos. 
5. JUDGING CRITERIA: Videos will be judged according to four main criteria: (1) creativity, (2) relevance to the topic and one subtopic, (3) source material use, and (4) communication of the topic and subtopic. Judges will assess the creativity of the videos based on the extent to which the applicant was creative (e.g., content, format, delivery) in their response to the topic as defined without distracting from the intended message. Judges will assess the relevance of the videos based on the extent to which the response is consistent and address the topic as defined. Judges will assess the use of source material in the videos based on the extent to which the response leveraged credible source(s) for any claims made in addressing the topic as defined. Judges will assess the communication of the topic in the videos based on the extent to which the response was clear, articulate, concise, and compelling in addressing the topic as defined. Winners will be announced on Friday, February 28, 2025, at 12 p.m. on SFI’s Social Media channels. 
6.   USE OF VIDEOS, NAME AND LIKENESS. By entering this Video Competition, entrant agrees that SFI can use entrant’s video, name and likeness, and biographical information for marketing and promotional purposes worldwide, and without further compensation or right of approval, unless prohibited by law. All federal and state laws apply.
7. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY: By entering this Video Competition, the entrant waives all rights to, and holds SFI harmless from, any claim, liability, loss, damage (including punitive, incidental, and consequential damages), or expense (including attorneys’ fees) arising out of or in connection with participation in this Video Competition or the acceptance, use, or misuse of any prize. SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. SFI will not be responsible for: late, incomplete, or incorrect entries; technical, hardware, or software malfunctions, lost or unavailable network connections, or failed, incorrect, inaccurate, incomplete, garbled, or delayed electronic communications whether caused by the sender or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or used in this Video Competition; by any human error which may occur in the processing of the entries in this Video Competition; or any typographical, technological, or other error in the publishing of the Video Competition, administration of the Video Competition, or announcement of the winners. 
8. PRIZES: Judges of the Video Competition will select three (3) winners. The 1st prize winner will receive $10,000. The 2nd prize winner will receive $7,000. The 3rd winner will receive $3,500. If a Minor is selected as a winner, any prize will be awarded in the name of their Parent. Selected winners may be required to sign and return an Affidavit of Eligibility and Release and any other documents that SFI may require. If a potential winner is disqualified for any reason, SFI will award the applicable prize to the runner-up, as determined in the judge’s discretion applying the judging criteria. SFI reserves the right to substitute any prize with another prize of equal or greater value.
9. CHOICE OF LAW AND FORUM: Entrant agrees that all matters arising out of or relating to this Video Competition and these Official Rules are governed by, and construed following, the laws of Delaware, without giving effect to any of its conflict of laws provisions thereof. Entrant further agrees that any legal suit, action, or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Video Competition and these Official Rules shall be brought exclusively in the applicable federal or state courts located in the county of New Castle, Delaware. Entrant acknowledges that it will not be able to obtain awards for, and hereby waives all rights to claim punitive, incidental, or consequential damages, including reasonable attorney’s fees.
10. PRIVACY: Information submitted with an entry is subject to the Privacy Policy. To read the Privacy Policy, click here. 

Nefertari Carver

Laurel Strategies, Senior Vice President

Nefertari Carver is a Senior Vice President at Laurel Strategies, based in Washington, DC. Nefertari has extensive experience in designing and executing communications strategies, advising clients on high-stakes situations and other sensitive matters.

Nefertari serves on the leadership team for a number of clients ranging from global private equity and investment firms to data and technology companies, where she focuses on managing reputational risks and leading ongoing positioning and media relations. She also specializes in communications strategy surrounding CEO transitions, crisis communications, and transformational philanthropy.

Nefertari draws on her experience working with CEOs and executives across the private, public and social sectors. She has worked with leadership teams on strategy and execution at the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) and with AARP’s Public Policy Institute where she developed a national coalition of philanthropic, business, and non-profit organizations.

Early in her career, Nefertari worked with Donna Brazile where she oversaw press relations, research, and thought leadership convenings; and served in the offices of Congresswoman Barbara Lee.

Nefertari holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Michigan and a Master of Public Administration degree from Villanova University.

Jaren McKinnie

Laurel Strategies, Director 

Jaren McKinnie is a Director at Laurel Strategies, based in Washington, DC. Jaren focuses on advising clients across racial equity, DEI, and philanthropic initiatives, and provides hands-on expertise related to podcast and radio show production and major event support, including at national events such as SXSW and for campaigns surrounding national awareness months.

Prior to joining Laurel, he worked in offices in the New York State Senate and the U.S. Senate. He also served as a Leonard D. Schaeffer Fellow in Government Service in 2019 while working in the U.S. Senate.

Jaren received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs as well as a certificate in French Language and Culture.

Rhonda McNutt

Bank of America, Senior Vice President Program Manager 

Rhonda McNutt is a Senior Vice President with the Bank of America Charitable Foundation.  She is responsible for deepening philanthropic partnerships and developing programs and initiatives that deliver on the company’s purpose – helping to make financial lives better.  Specifically, Rhonda leads the Basic Needs pillar strategy which focuses on creating awareness of and access to fundamental resources and services that individuals and families need to lead healthy, stable lives.

In her previous role, Rhonda led the Foundation’s academic partnerships strategy which included collaboration between higher education institutions, nonprofit organizations, national thought leaders, and employer partners.  This work has helped individuals across the nation build pathways leading to long-term career success.

Prior to this, Rhonda was a Senior CRA Manager supporting investing and lending activity aligned to Bank of America’s Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) goals.  Before that, she was a long-time member of the company’s CFO Group, directing strategic planning as well as budget management and reporting for the Global Marketing and Corporate Affairs, Consumer Card, and Corporate Treasury Finance lines of business.  Before joining Bank of America in May 2000, Rhonda worked in Corporate Accounting and Reporting at Duke Energy Corporation in Charlotte, NC.  

Rhonda has a BS in Accounting from The University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC) and has achieved the title of Certified Public Accountant.  She resides in Charlotte, NC with her husband of 23 years and their two sons.

Bessie Watts

Vista Equity Partners, Vice President, Office of the CEO

“Right out of college, I followed a traditional career path in finance. But I veered when I began learning more about the impact-related work the firm I worked for was doing. I pivoted further when I started working for a nongovernmental organization, which focused on empowering women and girls worldwide to bring communities out of poverty. While joining Vista may not have seemed like the next logical step, I saw an opportunity to scale – enacting change and leveraging Vista’s size and scale to make a positive impact in the world.”

Additional Judges (Photos and Bios Coming Soon!)

• Wendell Layne – Director of Operations, Fund II Foundation 
• Khalida Ali – Vice President, Diversity & Inclusion, Vista Equity Partners
• Ammani Nagesh – Strategy & Client Relations, Investment Funds and Regulatory, Kirland & Ellis LLP
• Joe Ritchie – Managing Director, Business Development, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Tishman Speyer