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Students Compete In Idea Contest To 'Reinvent Michigan'

DETROIT (WWJ) - How do we keep so many young people from leaving Michigan? A new project is giving Michigan college students a chance to come up with solutions to the problems facing the state.  Jim Shea is one of the founders of a statewide competition called "Students Reinventing Michigan."

According to Shea,  "What we did is, develop  a program where each year we'd come up with a contentious issue facing the legislature, and the students would then come up with a plan to solve the problem."

This year, Shea said the topic is  "How the legislature can improve Michigan's infrastructure--roads and bridges--with public support in these changing times."  Shea believes that could lead to the creation of 240 to 250 thousand new jobs in Michigan.

The grand prize winner will receive ten thousand dollars. Second plaze gets a five thousand dollar reward.  The group will also give out ten 500 dollar awards. And there's a four thousand dollar reward for instructors.

Shea hopes that young people taking part in the competition could become the future leaders of Michigan. "Who knows," Shea said, "Maybe we will have a future Governor, Legislator, or member of Congress whose path to success started with this program."

For more information or to submit a proposal, go here.

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