Senator Gregory Presents FHS Graduate Natalie Berger with $1,000 Scholarship Award
(Gregory Press Release, Ferndale 115 News, July 24, 2012)
Last night, Senator Vincent Gregory (D–Southfield) presented Ferndale High School graduate Natalie Berger with a $1,000 scholarship award at the Ferndale Board of Education meeting. Natalie received the award for her Third Place finish in the #mi2020 Scholarship Competition.
“Natalie’s video was very moving and it embodied the joy and excitement of youth, as well as the concerns for the future, and I am very proud of her,” said Senator Gregory. “Natalie is a prime example of the promise and creativity Michigan’s young people hold and I know that she has a bright future in film or anything else she puts her mind to. I am pleased that we could help her pay for college next year, but more importantly, I hope her video will help inspire the Legislature to take action and pass the Michigan 2020 Plan to make higher education affordable for all Michigan students.”
In the #mi2020 Scholarship Competition, students were asked to submit a short web video that explains the importance of investing in higher education and how the Michigan 2020 Plan to offer free college tuition to all students is the right investment for our state to make. More than 75,000 votes were cast by people across Michigan, and the public’s vote in the finals was combined with the votes of a judging panel to determine the top three winners.
“My inspiration for the video is what the face of a young person’s mind might look like—putting together images, music and colors that come to mind when I think of the embodiment of a young, starry-eyed mind with dreams for the future,” said Ferndale High School graduate and #mi2020 Scholarship Winner Natalie Berger. “I really wanted to create a video that puts aside all our differences and puts us all on the same level because, in the end, we’re all humans who dream about bettering ourselves—and that is what the Michigan 2020 Plan is all about. Without a wall of student debts blocking the way, anyone can achieve anything. I am very excited about this plan and can’t wait to see the amazing people it turns out who otherwise wouldn’t have been able to attend college.”
Natalie’s video and the other winning entries are available online at www.mi2020video.com.
More information on the Michigan 2020 Plan to provide college tuition for all Michigan high school graduates is available online at www.michigan2020.com.
