Isla Vista, Calif.  — The Villas at Tropicana, a complex near the University of California, Santa Barbara, is launching a video contest, with a $5,000 housing credit as the grand prize.

Current college students can submit segments of 60-seconds or less about why they want to live in the upperclassman apartment community until Jan. 31. Videos must include at least two reasons Tropicana is a good fit for the student, including marketing points, such as fully renovated one-bedroom, one-bath or two-bedroom, two bath units; flexible leasing plans and a location five blocks from the beach. The winner will be announced Feb. 16 and will be chosen after a popular vote online via the Tropicana Web site and Facebook.

“We are hoping for a high level of participation in the video contest from UCSB and Santa Barbara City College,” said David Wilcox, Executive Director.