Higher One Announces Money on My Mind Contest Winners

NEW HAVEN, Conn. --(Business Wire)--

Higher One, a leader in providing financial services and data analytics to over 1,250 college and university campuses across the U.S., announced the top winning video submissions for its Money on My Mind contest. Higher One awarded $4,200 for the entries that shared the best advice for overcoming money management challenges while balancing school and non-academic life.

The top three cash prize winners, selected from over 150 entrants, attend Florida-based institutions: Michael Jones, a student at the University of Tampa won the grand prize of $2,000 for writing and performing a rap song of his financial challenges and solutions; first prize designation and $1,000 was awarded to Enamarie Montero, Miami Dade College; and second prize and $500 went to Mark Niedermann, who attends Valencia College.

"The selection committee was impressed with the creativity of Michael's submission," stated Mary Johnson, Financial Literacy and Consumer Advocacy expert at Higher One. "He made the topics of budgeting and prioritizing purchases both informative and entertaining, which is no small feat. In addition, the song's catchy refrain was memorable enough to stay in our heads, so hopefully stuck with students that viewed it."

Over 150 video submissions recounted how students triumphed over their personal financial challenges,and offered money management advice for new college students.

"Our goal with Money on My Mind is to help students engage and influence their peers positively on the topic of financial literacy directly via social media, and it has proven very effective," said Johnson. "This year's winners archived helpful and realistic advice that we look forward to sharing with students across the country."

A partial list of winners and links to their winning submissions follow. Seven runners-up also received $100 each for their winning entries.

Grand prize and $2,000: Michael Jones, University of Tampa
First prize and $1,000: Enamarie Montero, Miami Dade College
Second price and $500: Mark Niedermann, Valencia College

Higher One believes that students can be financially responsible and, when given the necessary tools, can successfully live within their means. To that end, Higher One offers innovative student banking services based on choice and has dedicated resources to financial literacy including its Financial Intelligence online financial literacy course and the One For Your Money blog dedicated to the fundamentals of finances for college students.

About Higher One

Higher One Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: ONE) is a leading company focused on creating cost-saving efficiencies for higher education institutions and providing high-value services to students. Higher One offers a wide array of technological services on campus, ranging from streamlining the institution's performance analytics and financial aid refund processes to offering students innovative banking services, tuition payment plans, and the basics of financial management. Higher One works closely with colleges and universities to allocate resources more efficiently in order to provide a higher quality of service and education to students.

Founded in 2000 on a college campus by college students, Higher One now serves more than half of the higher education market, providing its services to over 1,250 campuses and 10.8 million students at distinguished public and private institutions nationwide. More information about Higher One can be found at HigherOne.com.