SoCal Teen Wins $20K Scholarship With Tweet

Amanda Russell uses twitter to win $20,000 for college

A tweet from a Long Beach Polytechnic High School student won a $20,000 scholarship sponsored by KFC.

Amanda Russell, 17, beat out more than 2,800 other applicants with for her ability to cram an application essay into 140 characters.

Her winning tweet was: "Hey Colonel! Your scholarship's the secret ingredient missing from my recipe for success! Got the grades, drive, just need cash!"

"I am so excited. I just can't believe it," Russell said.

According to KFC, the entries ranged from the lyrical to the heartwarming.

"#KFCScholar If you give a girl a drumstick, she'll want wings. Give her wings, she'll get a degree, take flight, and change the world," tweeted one lyrical applicant.

"1st to go to college in my Family. KFC can be the 1st to change my future. Being the victorious #KFCScholar will feel S-O G-DOUBLE-O-D Good!" wrote another.

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The tweets (read: applications) were judged on quality and creativity (40 percent), ability to tell a compelling story (30 percent), and entrepreneurial drive and ambition (30 percent), according to the official rules.

There's still time for other students to earn scholarship dollars, although applicants will have to write more than 140 characters. KFC is accepting applications for 2011 scholarships through Feb. 9. Seventy-four additional scholarships will be awarded for next year.

Copyright CNS - City News Service
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