High School Seniors Who Refuel With Chocolate Milk Earn College Scholarship

WASHINGTON, May 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Milk Mustache "got milk?®" Campaign and USA TODAY are pleased to announce the winners of the 2011 Scholar Athlete Milk Mustache of the Year (SAMMY) Awards. The SAMMY Awards scholarship recognizes 25 outstanding high school senior student athletes who represent excellence in academics, athletics, community service and leadership and drink lowfat milk as part of a healthy lifestyle. This year, more than 40,000 high school seniors applied for the SAMMY Award.

Whether it's chocolate milk as a post-exercise recovery drink, starting the day with lowfat milk over cereal, or grabbing an afternoon latte with fat free milk, SAMMY Award winners know that making smart choices like eating right and exercising will help them stay at the top of their game in the classroom and their chosen sports. Each winner receives a $7,500 college scholarship and will star in a special Milk Mustache ad in USA TODAY on June 24, 2011. The winners also will attend a weekend of events in Disney World with their families, including an awards ceremony hosted by two Milk Mustache celebrity guests.

Over the past 14 years, 350 teens have won the coveted SAMMY Award setting a positive example to their peers. This year's 25 winners were selected by a panel of superstar athlete Milk Mustache judges including Apolo Ohno, Chauncey Billups, Dara Torres, Andy Roddick and Lindsey Vonn.

"We are so excited to be able to recognize and reward these exceptional teens who not only excel in their respective sports and communities but also serve as role models for drinking milk – especially chocolate milk after exercise," said Miranda Abney, Senior Marketing Manager of the National Milk Mustache "got milk?®" Campaign. "Lowfat chocolate milk has the right combination of carbohydrates and protein making it a great choice to help refuel and recover after a tough workout."

2011 SAMMY Winners:

Nature's Recovery Drink

Refueling after exercise, especially during the two-hour recovery window, is key in helping the body recover and prepare for the next workout or competition.  Naturally nutrient-rich, lowfat chocolate milk is "nature's recovery drink."  It's a simple and effective post-exercise recovery choice, with:

• high-quality protein to build and repair muscles;
• the right mix of protein and carbs to refuel exhausted muscles; and
• fluids and electrolytes to rehydrate and help replenish what's lost in sweat.

Vote for the SAMMY MVP

SAMMY Award winners are widely known for excelling in the classroom, on the sports field and in their communities. This year the National Milk Mustache "got milk?®" Campaign is looking for the student-athlete who best embodies the spirit of SAMMY and, for the first time, one SAMMY winner will be named SAMMY MVP at the 2011 awards ceremony. Families, friends and SAMMY fans will have the opportunity to vote for the first ever SAMMY MVP by logging onto www.sammymvp.com and casting their vote. The winning SAMMY scholar will have an additional $5,000 donated to an organization of their choice.

SAMMY is Just a Click Away

The SAMMY Awards are given once a year to 25 high school seniors. For more information on this year's SAMMY winners, other contests and news from the latest Milk Mustache celebrities, log on to RefuelWithChocolateMilk.com. Fans can follow the weekend activities, learn more about winners at Facebook.com/BodyByMilk or follow us on Twitter @BodyByMilk.

About the National Milk Mustache "got milk?®" Campaign

The Milk Processor Education Program (MilkPEP), Washington, D.C., is funded by the nation's milk processors, who are committed to increasing fluid milk consumption.  The National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board, through MilkPEP, runs the National Milk Mustache "got milk?®" Campaign, a multi-faceted campaign designed to educate consumers about the health benefits of milk.  For more information, go to Facebook.com/BodyByMilk. Deutsch, A Lowe and Partners Company, is the creative agency for the National Milk Mustache "got milk?®" Campaign.

SOURCE Milk Processor Education Program (MilkPEP)