A Southridge High graduate who was picked as a finalist for the Dr Pepper Challenge scholarship contest at the BCS National Championship won a $7,500 scholarship.

Megan Hardy, a freshman studying education at Washington State University at Pullman, took third place in the next-to-last round of the competition, said her mother, Wendy Hardy.

A football throwing contest decided which two students of five finalists competed for the top scholarship of $100,000. Wendy Hardy said her daughter made 12 accurate throws in 30 seconds. The top two students each made 15 throws.

Megan ended up with more scholarship money than she originally won for a video of her talking about her goals. Wendy Hardy said officials with Dr Pepper told the three finalists who were knocked out that they would triple their scholarship awards.

Footage of the competition was to air during pre-game programming. Megan also got to attend the game between the University of Notre Dame and University of Alabama.