DELHI _ YouTube viewers _ and a national magazine _ are discovering that SUNY Delhi rocks.
The school has entered an online video contest sponsored by US News & World Report based on the theme "Why My School Rocks!" The more hits the video receives, the better the college's chance to win the contest.
Every person who watches the State University College of Technology at Delhi video at www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPWWPjHAGNo will register a hit that will be used by the magazine to determine which 10 videos will make it into the final judging.
Kimberly MacLeod, college spokeswoman, said she organized the production and used several strategies to attract viewers to turn in, including incorporating famous celebrities, athletes and politicians.
Students who appear include: Joel Pleasant, Lauryne Zinter, Michael Knight, Katie Ryan, Jillian Naveh, Joe Panton, Rachel Seecharran, Nicholas LaVallee, Brianne Slocum, Dave Wilcox, Lisa Knapp, Caitlyn Hefner, Traci Upton, Jessica Mulligan, Kayde Low, Eddie Cabildo, You Min Liu, Erin Doyle, Amanda Welsh, Patrick Crittenden, Matthew Cardinal, Brian Wallenhorst, Anthony Bracco and Savannah Hansen.
Celebrities, in the form of life-sized paper cutouts, include Lindsay Lohan, Tiger Woods, Kobe Bryant, David Beckham, Ty Pennington, Barack Obama and John McCain.
MacLeod said the contest runs until Oct. 31.
Christie Garton, US News spokeswoman, said the contest is an opportunity for students and staff to showcase their school.
The grand-prize winner will receive a spring break trip to one of four destinations: Jamaica, Cancún, Acapulco or the Bahamas.
MacLeod said that if Delhi wins, the trip will be raffled off among the students.
Garton said the videos should showcase unique and memorable characteristics of campus life. She added that she has watched Delhi's video.
"Delhi's video is a funny one to watch," Garton said. "We really enjoyed it."
MacLeod said the video was posted on YouTube on Thursday morning and already has more than 1,000 hits. On Friday, it was rated one of the most-watched education videos in the U.S. and in Israel.
"I believe the Israel honor is because Tami Eicholz, who graduated in May, has been spread the word in her home country," MacLeod said.
Joel Pleasant, 20, said he enjoyed taking part in the video.
"It's great," Pleasant said. "I'm kind of like a track and football star in my town, but this is definitely going nationwide. Who says you can't get rich and famous at college?"
Traci Upton, 22, agreed that making the video was a lot of fun.
"I thought it was funny, short, simple and to the point," Upton said. "Kim was really prepared, and it didn't take that long to tape."
MacLeod said the video has already proven to be a great way to reach out to young alumni.
"I am hearing from alum who are telling me how much they miss the college," MacLeod said. "As we said in the video, Delhi is where everyone wants to be."
