Social Sciences students recognized in national competition

Lewis College and the Department of Social Sciences wish to congratulate Social Sciences students Marcelle Hana and Bogdan Vintilescu, both of whom are members of an IIT student team that just placed among the top six teams nationally in the 2014 Up To Us competition.

Hana and Vintilescu will travel with the IIT team to Phoenix, AZ, on Friday, March 21, as part of an all-expenses paid trip to the Clinton Global Initiative University meeting. The IIT team will also be awarded a $2,500 for placing in the top six nationally, and will have a photo opportunity with President Clinton.

“We are proud to be representing IIT at Clinton Global Initiative this weekend,” Vintilescu said.

The group from IIT was among 22 teams from across the country to participate in the five-week competition, which is designed to raise student awareness of the nation’s rising long-term debt and foster leadership among young people in addressing national debt challenges. Teams were required to create plans to engage and educate their student peers and the public on the national debt. The IIT team was recognized specifically for the strength of its campaign in the area of Extended Reach, or outreach beyond campus.

Other universities ranking in the top six, and their areas of recognition, are as follows: Best Overall Campaign: University of Texas - Pan American; Participant Engagement: University of Tennessee - Knoxville; Creativity: Rice University; Rules & Participation: Northwestern University; and Building Awareness: University of Texas - Austin.