University student Jennie Armstrong will compete in the Dr Pepper Million Dollar Tuition Giveaway at the Southeastern Conference championship game for a chance to win $123,000 in tuition money.
 
Armstrong entered the contest by submitting a short video explaining why she deserves the money.
 
The mass communication senior said she was early for a meeting, saw the Dr Pepper truck and spontaneously decided to make a video.
 
“I want to dedicate my life to helping people, and this would mean so much,” Armstrong said in her 34-second video.
 
Armstrong received a call Thursday informing her she was one of the five Southeastern Conference finalists in the contest. All SEC finalists receive a trip for two to Atlanta for the game as well as a guaranteed $5,000 in tuition money.
 
“I never thought I’d hear from them again,” Armstrong said.
 
Five finalists per conference are selected from the SEC, Atlantic Coast Conference and Big 12 Conference.
 
The trip includes two tickets to the game, airfare, lodging, gifts and admission to the pregame sponsor party, according to the contest rules. Armstrong is taking her mother as her guest, and the rest of her family will be in Atlanta for the contest.
 
The Friday before the game, Armstrong will compete against the other four SEC finalists at the Georgia Dome to see who can successfully throw the most footballs into a 2-foot diameter target hole from 5 yards back. The contestants will have one warm-up throw and 10 official throws. The two contestants that make the most balls in the target will compete at halftime at the game the following day.
 
During halftime, the two finalists will have 30 seconds to throw 10 balls at the target.
The runner-up from the halftime competition will receive $23,000 in tuition money, and the winner will receive $123,000.
 
Armstrong said she plans to practice with friends and hopes to contact LSU football coach Les Miles to possibly get some practice time with the team.
 
“I should be nervous, but I feel so blessed,” Armstrong said. “Five thousand dollars and a free trip mean the world to me.”
 
Armstrong said winning the $123,000 grand prize would be icing on the cake.
 
If she wins, Armstrong said she will use the tuition money for a one-year master’s program and three years of law school.
 
 
 
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Contact Celeste Ansley at [email protected]