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Kirsten Midgley '11 |
Held the week leading up to the election, the contest required participants to predict accurately which candidate would win each state and the District of Columbia. The student who predicted more states correctly would win, and in the case of a tie, the person closest to predicting the popular vote percentage for John McCain and Barack Obama would determine the winner. More than 80 students participated in the contest, which concluded with an election night party complete with raffles, additional contests and trivia in the university's Central Dining Facility.
As each state was called, the contest participants compared their predictions against each other, and slowly the list of people with all states correct began to dwindle. By the end of the evening, two students had correctly predicted all 50 states and the District of Columbia, with Kirsten Midgley, class of 2011 from Boardman, Ohio, breaking the tie by predicting the popular vote percentage within just two percentage points.
Midgley will now witness a defining moment in the country's history as Barack Obama is sworn in as the nation's 44th president. The event is expected to draw more than two million people and is being hailed as one of the "biggest public parties in history." Thanks to U.S. Congressman Dave Hobson (OH-7th District) and Congressman-elect Steve Austria, Midgley will also be able to take a friend. Two Wittenberg professors will accompany the students.
"This election contest is the fourth one I've run at Wittenberg, and it by far generated the most interest," said Ed Hasecke, assistant professor of political science. "We are thrilled for Kirsten."
Written By: Karen Gerboth
Photo By: Erin Pence
153-08
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