Students voted for the top three finalists in the Forever LSU Student Video Contest on Thursday night in the Lawton Room in Tiger Stadium. The 2-3 minute videos — which ranged in style from rap music videos to Monty Python spoofs — were made to let students know about the importance of private funding to the University. Seven videos were submitted, and about 100 students voted on the videos, along with a panel of judges made up of Forever LSU officials, University professors and other students. Caitlin Cleveland, family, child and consumer sciences junior, made a rap video for the contest. “I love to make rap music,” Cleveland said. “So I thought I’d put it to good use.”In her video, Cleveland rapped about what Forever LSU — the University’s fundraising branch — does, including raise money for scholarships, building renovations and professorships through private donations. Cleveland’s video, along with the other six, also talked about how students can get involved — such as donating money through their PAWS account and by swiping their Tiger Cards at participating locations. The Student Video Contest is part of Forever LSU’s new student-driven campaign set to launch in the spring.Forever LSU has raised $659 million since its inception in 2006, according to Beverly Major, director of the campaign. Its goal is to raise $750 million by 2010. The top three finalists, who will be announced by Dec. 4, will receive a 32G iPod Touch and mentoring from Emmy Award-winning producer, director and University alumnus Robert Zimmerman.Those finalists will then gain access to high-tech equipment to reshoot their videos and edit them down to one minute. Students will vote on their favorite of the three online and the winner will be announced and featured on the score board during the LSU-Kentucky men’s basketball game Feb. 6. The grand prize is a 13-inch, 2.53GHz Macbook Pro and one Central “B” parking pass and Easy Streets wand for one year.”[The contest] has made me appreciate what Forever LSU does,” Cleveland said. James Rodger, mass communication sophomore, submitted his video, “LSU Man,” which used a film technique called stop motion. Rodger and his friend Seth Reich, electrical engineering senior, made the video in Reich’s apartment by stringing together 15-20 pictures a second, showing Reich — as LSU Man — flying around campus and improving its facilities, like Forever LSU. “We’re really excited,” Rodger said. “We really want to see it get to that high level of production.—-Contact Kyle Bove at [email protected]