This time of year, many seniors may be looking for creative ways to earn some extra scholarship money. Students are studying hard, volunteering, and excelling in extracurricular activities in hopes of getting more scholarships. But now there is a new way to earn a college scholarship: twerking.

Rapper Juicy J is offering a $50,000 scholarship to “the best chick who can twerk.” Juicy J shared this news on his Twitter page a couple weeks ago, but with no details, leaving some to believe it was just a joke.

But about a week later, Juicy J announced that he has launched the “Juicy J Scholarship Foundation” competition in partnership with Worldstarhiphop.com.

Juicy J was inspired by his track “Scholarship” on his new album Stay Trippy to give female fans an opportunity to win a $50,000 scholarship to their school of choice. The press release stated that Juicy J is offering the scholarship “out of the kindness of his heart,” but many people, especially females, see the contest as degrading.

The mention of this contest sparked a large debate in my IB English class. Many males seemed to be open to the idea, mentioning things like “It’s $50,000 towards your education, why wouldn’t you do it?”

Many females, on the other hand, were not open to the idea, and saw it as a means of exploitation.

When I surveyed my journalism class of mixed gender and age, 7 out of the 15 said if they were good at twerking and thought they had a good chance of winning the contest, they would enter. Freshman Michael DeLeers said he wouldn’t enter, stating, “I have dignity.”

Senior Erin Johnson had the same idea. “If you want to enter, that’s your decision, but I wouldn’t do it.”

Some people were disgusted by the contest, seeing it as a way of exploiting women.

“There’s no honor in getting a scholarship for shaking your behind. Why would you want to get a scholarship for that when there are a lot of intelligent women out here who use their brain? Why don’t you give them some money?” said head of the Hip Hop Liberation Army Seeka the Teacha.

The Memphis rapper defended the contest, saying, “I’m giving back to the community, I’m giving a $50,000 scholarship.”

If you are interested in joining the contest, it is open to all women ages 18 to 25 currently enrolled in a two or four year accredited college or university. No men are allowed to enter.

As it turns out, contestants don’t even have to twerk. Young adults must post YouTube videos set to Juicy J’s “Scholarship” and tell or “show” Juicy why they deserve the scholarship.

Contestants will be judged on their assets and creativity. Winners will be determined by the amount of shares the videos get on various social media outlets.

So if you’re going to enter the contest, go ahead, but please don’t tell me about it.