Students in Watkins Glen are hoping that four pairs of sneakers will keep their art program alive. They're competing in the nationwide Vans Custom Culture contest, designing Vans sneakers for a shot at $50,000 for their school's art program. Our Lara Greenberg tells us what this money could do for the students, and how you can help them win.

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WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. -- Guitar strings as shoelaces, bike gears lining the lace holes. Courtney Tuttle is one of nine Watkins Glen students hoping their creative sneaker designs will lead to $50,000.

"I'm nervous and excited. And it's kind of all I want to talk about to my family and things like that," said Watkins Glen sophomore Courtney Tuttle.

It's part of the nationwide Vans Custom Culture sneaker design contest. The grand prize is $50,000 for the school's art program. Online voting has put Watkins Glen in second place in the Northeast region.

"The size school we are, to compete with some of the schools on that list is just outstanding. But I'll put up our kids against any of them," said Watkins Glen principal David Warren.

If they win in the Northeast, they go to California for the finals and win $4,000.

If the students make the trip to California they could also win $5,000 for the best local flavor shoe, which in this case, features a race car from WGI and actual vines from a local vineyard.

But senior Meredith Johnson says they're not settling for second best. In a small school like Watkins Glen, $50,000 can go a long way.

"It's pretty important right now especially because of all the budget cuts that we're having and just because the art department doesn't get a lot of credit, so we don't really have that much spending money," said Watkins Glen senior Meredith Johnson.

Their art teacher says it could buy more supplies, computers, or programs like Photoshop. And with only a few days left to vote, Courtney, Meredith, and their classmates are hoping the underdogs will come out on top.

You can vote for Watkins Glen online until 11:59 on Thursday night. To vote, head over to www.vans.com/customculture.