CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., Oct. 9, 2008 -- Southeast Missouri State University senior Marlie Harper will be featured in an upcoming MTVu reality show. 

Harper was one of six university students selected to star in MTVu’s new show “College 500.”  The students were divided into two teams and drove from New Jersey to California, competing in challenges at universities along the way for a $15,000 grand prize.  “College 500” premieres Monday, Oct. 13, between noon and 1 p.m.

“I still can’t believe it happened,” says Harper, an elementary education major from St. Louis.  “It was the best experience of my life.”

The experience started last spring when Harper says she applied for a casting call on MTV’s Web site. 

“I’m just one of those people who does that,” she says.  “I always go online and enter to win things.  I guess I’m lucky because I win quite a bit or maybe it’s just because I enter I so much.”

She was one of 30 students called in July and asked to submit a YouTube video explaining what makes her stand out and why she should be chosen.  In her video, she described her competitive spirit.  By mid-August, MTV told her she was on the show.

“They told me I was selected but that everything wasn’t finalized yet, so I shouldn’t tell too many people.  But, I wanted to meet with my teachers and explain that I would miss classes the first two weeks in September.  I got my assignments and flew to New Jersey on Sept. 1,” she says.

The teams participated in five challenges at five universities, ranging from creating a music video to convincing students to let the team buy something for them.  Harper says she was surprised at how many students declined, but it was Challenge 3 that brought Harper back to familiar ground.

“We traveled through Missouri.  We actually stopped in St. Louis and I showed my teammates and the producers the Arch, and they were fascinated with it.  They really liked it.”

Harper says she took the group to Union Station, where her mother and boyfriend met them for dinner.  Then, they were off to the University of Missouri-Columbia for a scavenger hunt.

“I’ve been to Mizzou a thousand times,” she says.  “So, I know the campus.  I was ready for this challenge.  We were allowed to have students help us, and I have a couple of friends there who got to help us out,” she says.

Harper says visiting the campuses and the challenges were interesting, but it was the travel and the people she met that she valued.

“I probably had the best time just hanging out with my teammates during our trip,” she says.  “They are the most amazing people.  Nick was from Montana State and was the funniest person I’ve ever met.   Anna was from the University of Toledo, and we just really got along.”

Harper says seeing the Rocky Mountains and part of the Grand Canyon as well as visiting California and the East Coast for the first time were definitely highlights, too.   So much so, that she and her friends are planning a cross country road trip next summer, she said.

As for the new friends she made during this road trip, Harper says they’ve exchanged text messages and talked a few times since their adventure ended.

“Honestly, after missing two weeks of class, none of us have much time for anything except getting caught up with school, especially with mid-terms upon us.  But even as busy as I am now, it is all worth it,” she said.

The group also got to host the hour-long music video program, “Dean’s List,” and introduce their top 10 favorite songs.  But with all this television experience, Harper says she isn’t making any changes in her education soon.

“I’m a senior, so no way am I changing my major to anything else.  The experience did open my eyes to other opportunities, but I love elementary education.”

MTVu is a 24-hour college network, broadcasting to 750 college campuses nationwide and online at mtvu.com.  The network is heavily focused on music with no program lasting much longer than a music video.  Harper says the episodes of “College 500” are about six minutes long and will air Mondays starting Oct. 13, between noon and 1 p.m. between music videos.

“Life is too short not to have fun,” says Harper.  “This was a once in a lifetime experience.  But, to find out how my team did in the competition, you’ll have to tune in.”