Maine College of Art junior Annie Mora has won $5,000 from D.L. Geary Brewing Co. for coming up with the design that will appear on 1 million bottles of its summer ale.

But Mora will have to wait until this summer when she turns 21 to collect the rest of her winnings: a free year’s supply of Geary’s ale.

“I can look at it, but I can’t buy it yet, ” said Mora, of South Londonderry, Vt.

Each year the Portland brewery sponsors the contest for MECA students, who must come up with a packaging design for a six- and 12-pack carton and bottle label.

Mora, a graphics design student, said it took her about 120 hours to come up with her design, which was inspired by water colors. She said the blue pattern represents splashing water.

“I wanted to make something different than what you would normally see on the shelves,” Mora said.

She said she hopes winning the contest will give her resume a boost. For now, she’s saving the money she won.

Her stepmother, George Mora, said everyone back home is very excited. She said her stepdaughter’s eyes lit up when she first heard about the annual contest during a college tour.

“She is real hard worker,” George Mora said.

The summer ale has already hit store shelves, where it will be available until October.

Staff Writer Beth Quimby can be contacted at 791-6363 or at:

bquimby@pressherald.com