From left: Andrew Pana, Sanskruti Patel, Karthik Rangavajhula and Shyam Babu
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Four students from the University of South Carolina’s Honors College have each earned a $1,000 cash prize in the Pay it Forward competition sponsored by South Carolina’s electric cooperatives. The competition challenges students to propose solutions to pressing social and economic problems in the state’s rural areas.
Shyam Babu of Columbia, Andrew Pana of Chaska, Minnesota, Sanskruti Patel of West Columbia and Karthik Rangavajhula of Charlotte won for their plan to mobilize healthcare workers, college students and community members to educate young people in rural areas about healthcare careers and essential health topics. The group’s program is called MedElem, which is derived from “medicine” and “elementary.”
Chastity Graham, national fellowships coordinator at the University of South Carolina’s Honors College, advised the winning students on their project. For her work, Graham receives $500.
“Since we started the Pay it Forward program, we’ve seen some incredible ideas and creative solutions from the college students,” said Mike Couick, president and CEO of The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina. “By highlighting these solutions to rural problems, we hope to inspire the students to take the next step and put their plans into action.”
This is the third year for the Pay it Forward program, which is open to students at Clemson University, South Carolina State University and the University of South Carolina.
To view the group’s winning proposal, click here: https://tinyurl.com/2tmjd59y
To view their winning video, click here: https://tinyurl.com/yc4ufwp8
