Rick Mercer congratulates Algonquin College on Spread the Net win

March 16, 2016

Algonquin College students have answered the challenge yet again.

Students raised $66,476 in support of the Spread the Net Student Challenge since 2012, and — as has become an annual tradition — the CBC's Rick Mercer stopped by to congratulate them on winning the 2016 Spread the Net Student Challenge.

Proceeds raised through the Student Challenge, an annual competition organized by Plan Canada, support the fight against malaria in Africa through the purchase of bed nets. Mercer, relaying his own experience from a trip to Africa, said the bed nets make a huge difference — saving lives and ensuring the communities can grow and flourish. Each net costs about $10 and can protect a family for up to five years.

2015-16 marked the fourth consecutive year the students of Algonquin College have been named the postsecondary Student Challenge champs.

In addition to a rally in the Student Commons, Rick visited a few classes as part of a segment which will air on The Rick Mercer Report season finale on March 29.

See an album of photos from Wednesday's visit