Brockport student wins $100,000 in Dr. Pepper competition during PAC-12 halftime contest

The College at Brockport is no stranger to the Dr. Pepper $100,000 Tuition Give Away.

The competition gives college students the chance to win tuition money for their academic studies. Contestants are asked to make a video sharing why they deserve to win tuition money and what they would use it for.

Winning videos are chosen and those students selected are awarded $2,500 by Dr. Pepper. Four Brockport students have won money from this competition, three of whom won $2,500. One student advanced to the final competition to compete for the top prize of $100,000.

Jeremy Mehta, a junior physics major, got involved in October when he saw free Dr. Pepper being given away in the Union.

"At first I went over to the table just because I wanted the free Dr. Pepper," Mehta said. "I was told that I would have to make a video first. I had about 15 seconds to plan what I wanted to say, and they started to record."

Mehta recorded a 25-second video about why he deserved to win the money. In the video, Mehta shared his love for Dr. Pepper, and his love for physics. He said a lot of the world's problems can be solved by using physics and winning the money from the Dr. Pepper competition would help him pursue a career in physics.

"I have a huge passion for Dr. Pepper and my physics degree," said Mehta in an online summary of his video. "The skills I develop in college can be utilized to resolve many of the world's leading issues. I hope Dr. Pepper helps make me a Dr. Mehta."

Two weeks after submitting his video, Mehta was contacted by Dr. Pepper. He was told that he won $2,500 and was selected to compete in the championship for the top prizes of either $23,000 or $100,000.

He was also told the competition would consist of two rounds: A preliminary round and the final championship round. The competition would consist of throwing footballs through a two-foot hole cut in an oversized replica of a Dr. Pepper can during halftime at the PAC-12 championship game in Eugene, Ore. The person who threw the most footballs through the hole would win.

After finding out the contest details, Mehta's mother drove from his hometown of Niskayuna, N.Y. (near Albany), to deliver a replica of the giant Dr. Pepper can he would throw through, so her son could practice.

"I kept practicing throwing footballs into this contraption," Mehta said. "My friends were really supportive in helping me practice and so was [Recreational] Services. They provided me with footballs to use."

Wednesday, Nov. 30, Mehta and his twin brother, Collin, flew to Oregon to get ready for the final competition. The journey included a welcome dinner, a tour of Autzen Stadium and tons of Dr. Pepper gear. Mehta competed in the preliminary round Thursday, Dec. 1, which pitted him against five other students for the top prize. Competitors were given 30 seconds to throw 30 balls into the oversized Dr. Pepper can. The top two would move onto to compete during half time for $100,000.

Mehta and Carolyn Reynolds, a student from San Diego, Calif., finished above everyone else, securing their spots in the final round. Mehta and Reynolds arrived at Autzen Stadium Saturday, Dec. 3 to compete for the final prize during halftime.

Mehta won, throwing 15 more footballs into the Dr. Pepper than Reynolds. Reynolds won $23,000 and Mehta walked away with a check for $100,000.

"At first I couldn't believe it," Mehta said in a Brockport press release. "It took a while for it to set in, but the more people congratulated me, the more I realized what had happened. A huge weight has been lifted off mine and my family's shoulders."

According to the same press release, Mehta plans to use his winnings to help fund his undergraduate education and then graduate degree. He plans to use the remainder to pay for his brother's education.

The three other students who won for their video submissions to the Dr. Pepper competition received checks for $2,500. Emily Copeland, Anthony Rivera and Katherine Sinnott each created videos sharing their reasons why they deserved the money. Rivera, a physical education major, was grateful for the chance to be recognized.

"It was a nice experience and it feels good to win something," Rivera said.

Across the country Dr. Pepper will be giving away $1 million worth of tuition money to students. Students can still compete for $2,500 by creating a video. Those interested can find more online at  http://www.drpepper.com/promotions/football.