MARQUETTE, Mich.—Northern Michigan University will hold a student video contest with cash prizes totaling more than $6,000.

Submissions will be accepted in three categories each semester. The fall categories are: “My NMU Adventure” for the best personal stories about students’ experiences at NMU; “It’s Good to Laugh” for the best use of positive humor; and “Northern. Naturally.” for videos that best display NMU’s ties to its surrounding natural environment.

First-place winners in each category receive $500. The prizes for second and third place are  $250 and $100, respectively. All six first-place finishers from the academic year will be part of a campus-wide online vote in the spring to determine the $1,000 grand prize winner.

The videos will be posted to NMU’s channel on YouTube. The deadline to submit videos is

5 p.m., Friday, Dec. 17, for the fall contest and 5 p.m., Friday, March 17, for the winter contest.

“The goal is for prospective and transfer students and their parents to see Northern Michigan University through the eyes of our current students,” said Cindy Paavola, director of NMU Communications and Marketing. “Nobody tells our story better than the students who are the very heart and soul of this campus.”

For contest rules and an application, go to www.nmu.edu/videocontest.