YAKIMA, Wash. -- There are just 22 days left to vote!

More than 1,100 projects are in the running.

And the top two win $250,000 through the Pepsi Refresh Project.

The local HERO Program, part of the College Success Foundation, was in 72nd place mid-week, up from 90th a week before. And the online leader board updates every 30 minutes.

The Higher Education Readiness Opportunity, or HERO, Program aims to support underserved students and their families so those students will successfully graduate from high school, prepare for college and develop leadership abilities.

HERO advisors work with 7th-, 8th-, 9th- and 10th-grade students. Right now, the program is offered at Davis High School and Franklin Middle School. But the program is slated to soon be offered throughout the Yakima School District.

If HERO wins, $130,000 would go to summer leadership training and academic enrichment, another $60,000 would fund academic advising and college prep work, $40,000 would be spent on outreach to students and families, and $20,000 would help train and match mentors with students.
Its submission is called "Put Students on a Path to Success."

Voting ends June 30. And finalists are slated to be announced July 1.

Each month, up to 1,000 ideas can be submitted. And each month, 32 potential Pepsi Refresh Grant recipients are selected.

Up to $1.3 million is also available each month, to be awarded like this: Two grants at $250,000, 10 grants at $50,000, 10 grants at $25,000, and 10 grants at $5,000.

All legal residents of the United States who are 13 years of age and older can vote by clicking here.

For more information, contact Vicente Sanchez at 509-573-2787 or vsanchez@collegesuccessfoundation.org.

-- Adriana Janovich