The National Milk Mustache "got milk?®" Campaign and USA TODAY – with help from NBA All-Star Chauncey Billups and gold medalist softball champion Jennie Finch – recently celebrated the winners of the 2012 Scholar Athlete Milk Mustache of the Year, or SAMMY, scholarship.

The SAMMY Awards recognized 25 outstanding high school senior student athletes who represent excellence in academics, athletics, community service and leadership and who make the most of their days by having milk at breakfast each morning before they head off to class. This year, more than 30,000 high school seniors applied for the award.

Whether it's starting the day with lowfat milk in a cup, in a glass or in a bowl, 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 received a $7,500 college scholarship and starred in a special Milk Mustache ad in USA TODAY.

Here are the 2012 SAMMY Award winners.

  • Miceile Barrett (Delaplane, Va.)
  • Sarah Bennion (Medford, Ore.)
  • Mary Carmack (Bangor, Maine)
  • Garrett Gosse (Las Vegas, Nev.)
  • Zane Gouker (Lakeside, Ariz.)
  • Michelle Greeneway (Sheboygan, Wis.)
  • Megan Herring (Missoula, Mont.)
  • Logan Hilton (Alexandria, La.)
  • Darwin Hsu (Troy, Mich.)
  • Julissa Hunte (Rio Rancho, N.M.)
  • Noama Iftekhar (Santa Clara, Calif.)
  • Dion Low (Valparaiso, Ind.)
  • Steph Jackson (Naperville, Ill.)
  • Emily King (Westport, Wash.)
  • Max Reinertsen (Esko, Minn)
  • Corey Laughlin ( Pueblo, Colo.)
  • Jenny Mears (Veron, Conn.)
  • Dalton Meier (Elm Creek, Neb.)*
  • Aunjanna' Million (Middletown, Ohio)
  • Jahan Mirchandani (Floral Park, N.Y)
  • Jasmine Mobley (Austin, Texas)
  • Chris Moroz (Thomaston, Ga.)*
  • Tanner Satterthwaite (Norman, Okla.)
  • Kat Stone (Fort Walton Beach, Fla.)
  • David Trompke (Eagle, Idaho)

 
MilkPEP also congratulated Emily King on winning the SAMMY MVP title. King got her community involved to help generate the highest number of votes. For her efforts, $5,000 will go to Make-A-Wish America, her charity of choice.

Read more about the winners at sammymvp.com.