Pleasanton, Calif.-based Safeway Inc. said it selected the nine finalists chosen to compete for a $30,000 grand prize in the seventh annual “Lucerne The Art of Dairy” art contest. The contest — themed “Red, White & Moo” — gives art students the opportunity to showcase their design skills for a chance to win a grand prize of $30,000. Safeway challenged students to illustrate what American ingenuity means to them by incorporating the retailer’s Lucerne dairy products on a cow-shaped template.

The nine finalists — who were announced via a live post on Facebook and at www.artofdairy.com — now will transfer their designs onto a life-sized fiberglass cow, Safeway said. From April 16 through May 15, America will vote online and via mobile devices for their favorite cow to determine the winning artist in the contest. Safeway will announce the winners in early June.

The grand-prize winner will receive $20,000 for his or her school’s art department, as well as $5,000 each himself or herself and the art teacher, Safeway explained. The first-prize winner will receive $5,000 for his or her school’s art department, as well as $2,500 for himself or herself and the art teacher. And one honorable achievement winner and his or her teacher will receive $1,000 each. The remaining six finalists each will receive $500 U.S. Savings Bonds.

Additionally, for the first time ever, Safeway said it created a Teacher’s Incentive program that will award $1,000 to the art department of the school with the most entries.

Since the content’s inception in 2005, Safeway said it has contributed more than $327,000 to schools, teachers and students.
 

For more information, visit www.artofdairy.com.