Duquesne Student Group Cruises to 2nd Place in National Zip Car Video Contest

Duquesne’s Strong Women, Strong Girls chapter placed second in Zip Car’s 2017 “Students with Drive” contest, co-sponsored by Ford Motor Company.

For the contest, college student groups across the country were asked to develop and submit a three-minute video illustrating the work that they do and how Zip Car helps them.

The video submitted by Duquesne’s chapter was one of only 10 entries selected as national finalists in the contest. Members of the public could view and vote on their favorite video, which helped to determine which entries would place in the top three to receive financial support.

See the video here.

“We’re so proud that our students placed second in this contest, and are being rewarded for the great work that they do in our community,” says Alia Pustorino-Clevenger, director for student life assessment and co-curricular community engagement at Duquesne. “Zip Car has been very helpful in ensuring that our students get to volunteer sites around the city, and we appreciate its ongoing support.”

For winning second place, Duquesne’s group will receive $3,500 in driving credit from Zip Car, as well as $5,000 donated to Duquesne’s scholarship fund and $5,000 cash to the Strong Women, Strong Girls chapter.

Zip Car, through its university membership program, provides self-service access to cars 24/7 at low hourly and daily rates that include gas and insurance. The cars are located on campus and the program is designed to reduce demand for on-campus parking, alleviate congestion and provide a sustainable alternative transportation solution that also reduces a carbon footprint.

Duquesne is one of six Strong Women, Strong Girls chapters at universities in Pittsburgh. The organization’s mission to “empower girls to imagine a broader future through a curriculum grounded on female role models delivered by college women mentors, who are themselves mentored by professional women.”

The University’s chapter members serve as mentors and role models to girls and volunteer at program sites in the community, including Sto Rox, Carmalt, Roosevelt, Arlington, Brookline, Westwood, Whittier, West Liberty, Phillips and Spring Hill elementary schools.