N.C. A&T Students Win Census Video Competition

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (April 1, 2020) – With the United States in a mad dash to make sure everyone was counted in the U.S. Census, two North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University students did their part to make sure their peers are in the number. 

Deja Mayfield, a junior journalism and mass communications student, and Love Caesar, a senior political science and history student, competed in the #MakeNCCount video competition, sponsored by NC College Compact and NC Counts Coalition. The pair won first and second place in the informational category, respectively. 

Each video begins with a man-on-the-street interview approach, asking Aggies what they knew about the census as they passed through the student center. After a few incorrect answers, Mayfield and Caesar included information that would help clear up any misconceptions.

“It’s important to educate people about the census because the data collected and decisions made based upon it are so impactful to our lives,” said Mayfield. “I am happy that my video is able to inform others about something so important.”

Minorities, immigrants and families without internet access have been identified as some of the populations most at risk of being undercounted.

“People who are a part of what we consider historically hard to count communities need to be represented so their areas can receive adequate federal funding,” said Caesar, a 2019 NC College Compact Census fellow. “I really encourage my peers to ask questions about the census, share the information with others and participate.”

Caesar also volunteers on the Complete Count committee for Guilford County, which is one of 11 counties identified by the NC Counts Coalition as having the lowest participation rate in the state.   

Residents have the option of completing the census by mail, phone or online. Universities, however, will count their students who were living on campus. Off-campus students should coordinate with roommates to complete one census form, counting everyone in that household. 

For more information, visit the 2020 Census website.