Arizona REEL Milk Moments Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Dairy Council of Arizona

Description Arizona Milk Producers invites high-school seniors and current college students with a camera and a love of dairy to enter a short-video scholarship contest. Entrants must create an engaging “Reel” (30 seconds or less) that highlights how real dairy products improve their day. The contest awards three college scholarships and recognizes creativity in telling a personal dairy story. Submissions should emphasize real dairy’s role in lifestyle, taste, nutrition, or cooking.

• Short-form video contest (≤ 30 seconds) called “Reel Milk Moment”
• Focus: real dairy products and personal impact
• Three college scholarship awards available

Eligibility This opportunity is limited to students planning to enroll full time at an Arizona college in the specified fall semester. Applicants must be current high-school seniors or presently enrolled college students at the time of entry. Entrants must meet the contest’s enrollment intent requirement to remain eligible for finalist and scholarship consideration.

• Who can enter: high-school seniors or current college students
• Requirement: plan to enroll full-time at an Arizona college in the specified fall semester
• Proof of enrollment intent required if selected as a finalist

Video Criteria Entries must clearly show how real dairy fits into and fuels the creator’s lifestyle while visually featuring at least one dairy product. Videos should highlight dairy benefits (nutritious, delicious, versatile, creamy) and explicitly include the words “real milk” and/or “real dairy,” either spoken or displayed on-screen. Keep all videos edited to 30 seconds or less and tell a concise, compelling story.

• Must be ≤ 30 seconds
• Visually showcase at least one dairy product (milk, cheese, yogurt, ice cream, etc.)
• Include “real milk” or “real dairy” in audio or on-screen text
• Emphasize dairy benefits and personal usage/story

Submission and Judging A judging panel evaluates all submissions against the stated video criteria and selects eight finalists from the total pool. Scoring is based on how well each entry meets the judging elements (story, dairy depiction, messaging, length). Finalists are chosen by score rather than by public vote; only those selected will advance to the application packet stage.

• Entries judged by a panel using the video criteria
• Eight finalists selected based on score
• Selection is merit-based, not a public vote

Finalist Requirements and Recognition Selected finalists must complete a supplemental application packet to remain eligible for scholarships; this packet verifies identity, academic intent, and provides additional context about the video. The required items include an application form, photo ID, a letter of recommendation, a personal narrative essay, and a video concept essay. Each finalist will also receive a NutriBullet personal blender as recognition for advancing in the contest.

• Required packet: application, photo ID, letter of recommendation, personal narrative, video concept essay
• Finalists receive one NutriBullet personal blender
• Completing the packet is mandatory to be considered for scholarships

Scholarship Selection and Prize Details From the eight finalists, three scholarship winners are chosen using a combined score that includes both the original video and the finalist application packet. Scholarship awards are tiered: First Place $8,000; Second Place $6,000; Third Place $4,000. In addition to cash awards, each winner receives three Fiesta Bowl game tickets and a parking pass and must attend the game for an on-field award presentation.

• Winners determined by combined video and packet scores
• Awards: 1st $8,000 | 2nd $6,000 | 3rd $4,000
• Each winner gets three Fiesta Bowl tickets, one parking pass, and must attend the game for presentation

Application Timeline (dates provided in original materials) The contest materials specify finalist and winner notification dates and a game date associated with the prize package. Finalists are listed as being notified on Nov. 8, 2023, and winners on Dec. 11, 2023; prize tickets reference the Fiesta Bowl game on Jan. 1 (year listed as 2023 in the original text). These dates as published appear inconsistent with the contest’s stated fall enrollment (e.g., Fall 2024) and should be confirmed with Arizona Milk Producers before planning or submission.

• Finalist notification: Nov. 8, 2023 (as published)
• Winner notification: Dec. 11, 2023 (as published)
• Fiesta Bowl ticket date listed as Jan. 1 (year in original text appears inconsistent)
• Confirm all dates with the contest organizer prior to entry

If you’d like, I can produce a concise checklist for entrants or a sample video concept that meets the criteria.