Only four video submissions from around the country were recently selected for Polartec’s Made Possible Challenge, and the SUNY New Paltz Outing Club’s entry made the cut. Polartec, which bills itself as manufacturer of “the world’s finest outdoor performance fabrics,” has sponsored the competition for college outdoor organizations for the past three years, with last year’s winner being Princeton University. The winning college’s outdoor club receives $10,000.
Outing Club president Jacob Yoder, and fellow student Terence Gardner, who created the video, believe their entry is a chance to show that students at state colleges in New York can go up against the best. “Winning would benefit us, but also be a testament to the abilities of SUNY institutions and students,” said Gardner. “We work really hard in our classes and our video shows a lot of teamwork and effort outside of studies too. What we need now is everyone to vote for us.”
While the semi-finalists are based on merit, the winner is ultimately decided by the number of votes cast by members of the public on Polartec’s Made Possible Facebook page. According to Gardner, it only takes a couple of seconds to vote. The SUNY team is asking everyone to cast a ballot for them on Facebook.
To vote, enter “Polartec Made Possible 2012” on Facebook and vote for SUNY New Paltz. You can also go to www.helpsunywin.com. Voters can cast a ballot more than once, every 24 hours. The contest ends Dec. 14.