Students at San Dieguito Academy in Encinitas could win as much as $20,000 for the school's art programs as finalists in a unique video contest extolling the virtues of milk.

The students are among 10 finalists across the state in the contest, which is based on a popular television ad campaign featuring a milk-fueled rock star named "White Gold."

Two seniors at the high school ---- Alex Finden and Zach Simmons ---- organized the video project, enlisting classmates to act, create music and help with the production.

The five-minute video features students acting as "White Gold" and his girlfriend, "Strawberry Summers." They re-enacted a scene from the online rock opera that went with the ad campaign, singing the song "Almost as Beautiful as Me" in a pool of milk.

Students from about 140 schools entered the contest, which is the culmination of the California Milk Processor Board's quirky "White Gold" campaign. The advertisements were aimed at teenagers and depicted an aging rock musician who hit his stride thanks to milk.

"It's sort of like his swan song," said Steve James, the milk board's executive director, about the fictional rock star.

A portion of the winning video probably will be featured in an upcoming television ad, he said.

The board, which was formed in 1993 to boost milk sales, decided to give money to the arts with the contest because the lead character is a musician, James said. Plus, art programs tend to be the first reduced or eliminated when schools make spending cuts, he said.

It took the San Dieguito students a couple of weeks to plan their short film and about five hours to film it, Alex said.

"We've been working out butts off for the past couple of months on this," he said. "I'm really proud of it."

The students found out last week that their video earned then a finalist spot and at least $2,500 for their school. If the video wins, the school will get $20,000. A second-place finish would bring $10,000.

Wining that money would be "enormous" for the school, Principal Michael Grove said. It could help pay for musical instruments or art programs, he said.

"It would be pretty dynamic for us," he said.

The videos in the contest were judged by celebrities and advertising professionals based on a variety of things, including creativity, technical ability and vision.

James said he was impressed with the over-the-top humor displayed in Alex and Zach's video.

"They were faithful to the spirit of White Gold," he said.

San Dieguito Academy was the only school in San Diego to win a finalist spot. The contest was open to any California public high school student from age 14 to 18.

Anyone can see the finalists' videos and vote online at www.milkquarious.com. Voting will close Jan. 24 and the wining video will be announced Jan. 25.

Call staff writer Stacy Brandt at 760-901-4009.