By Hannah Garner
Jambar Contributor
The Cafaro Foundation is giving current full-time students the opportunity to win a $1,000 scholarship at each YSU home football game this season.
Students can show off their penguin pride by posting a 15-30 second video of themselves on Twitter during each home game using #YSUCafaroGameScholarship. One random student will be selected to win and announced at the following home game.
Rules for the scholarship are as follows: students must be registered for the 2018 fall semester, the video must be taken during the game at Stambaugh Stadium, all videos must include a brief view of the scoreboard. Scholarships are limited to one per student for the 2018 season.
Winners of the scholarship will be announced at the following home game with the winning video being played on the stadium scoreboard. Each winner will receive the scholarship by Dec. 31, 2018 (posted to their YSU student account).
Given the unique nature of this scholarship, it raises some questions about student attendance at football games, some have questioned if the number of students going to games decreasing and if this a way to get more students to attend the games.
According to Cafaro spokesman, Joseph Bell, attendance isn’t the reason behind the scholarship.
“Attendance isn’t really the issue, but this is a marketing tool by the [athletic] department to bring more attention to the university,” Bell said.
“The athletic department is using a grant given by Cafaro for the scholarship. It’s a fun way to get people involved,” Bell added.
Abby Rothwell, a junior early childhood education major, is a member of the YSU Color Guard and thinks that attendance is an issue at home games.
“The first game there was students standing and cheering, by the second game there wasn’t as many students and they were all sitting,” Rothwell said. “And after halftime, the [student] section was empty and the crowd was quiet.”
“The scholarship is an awesome opportunity and a simple way to get more money,” she said. “I think students may show up to more games if there’s a chance to win more scholarships.”
Tyler Hamilton, a junior exercise science major, said he thinks the scholarship opportunity is good, but doesn’t think it will have much of an impact.
“I honestly don’t think it will make much of a difference on how many students go,” Hamilton said. “It won’t be a reason I go or don’t go. It’s just not why people go to football games.”
The Penguins only have four more home games left this season. Students can pick up their free ticket by showing their YSU ID at the bookstore or at the Athletic Ticket Office.
For more information about the scholarship, contact the YSU Athletic Ticket Office at (330) 941-1978.