“The Folgers shaker is genius.”

That’s what judge Kara DioGuardi, a songwriter and “American Idol” judge, told a group of college students after they performed their Folgers Coffee jingle in New York City last week. Their song featured a maraca of sorts made from a Folgers Coffee can.

Apparently the other judges agreed with DioGuardi because the catchy tune was named the winner of the Folgers Coffee jingle contest Friday.

Flathead High School graduates Ethan Thompson and Jenny Snipstead, along with University of Montana students Landon Lee of Conrad and Dan Coburn of Ashland, Ore., walked away from the contest with an oversized check for $25,000 and bragging rights in the nationwide competition.

“The best compliment that I can give to somebody is to say, ‘I want to hear it again,’” DioGuardi told them after they performed their song for a panel of judges at “Good Morning America” studios in Times Square.

“They said the jingle fit perfectly with what they were looking for,” said Thompson, who wrote the song.

Thompson graduated from Flathead High in 2008 and

headed for Missoula. He has taken a break from college to focus on writing and performing with Ethan Thompson Band, formerly known as What Rhymes with Oranges. Lee and Coburn are band members.

After writing the jingle and deciding it needed a girl’s voice, Thompson recruited his former classmate Snipstead, with whom he had performed throughout high school. Snipstead, a student at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Wash., met him in Seattle to record the female vocals.

The resulting melody was selected as one of 10 semifinalists in the contest. People voted for their favorite jingles, and the top five were flown to New York to perform in front of a panel of judges.

Folgers put the finalists up in a hotel for four days. The other finalists came from Tennessee, New Jersey, North Carolina and South Carolina and were all “really cool,” Thompson said.

All five jingles were broadcast on the jumbo screen outside the studios in Times Square. There weren’t many people in the studios, “but there were a lot of people outside watching,” Thompson said.

The only time the band felt nervous was in the moments while they were waiting to perform, he said. They couldn’t hear what was happening on stage and could only sit and wait.

“It was dead silent in there. We were definitely feeling the pressure,” he said. “But then we decided to all have fun, and that’s what we ended up doing.

“It turned out to be a blast.”

In addition to their $25,000 grand prize, the band might hear their jingle in an actual Folgers commercial. They might even get to be in the commercial, but Thompson said that hasn’t yet been finalized.

While the money is a boon, particularly to college students who tend to be strapped for cash, Thompson said he appreciated the opportunity to take an important step in his music career. That was one of the primary reasons he decided to enter the contest in the first place.

“It was a way to get my face out there, get my music out there,” he said.

The band played an original song for DioGuardi, who was complimentary.

“This could be a nice catalyst,” Thompson said.

Band members haven’t let their success go to their heads. They’re back in Missoula, practicing for a June 17 show at The Palace. The Folgers jingle isn’t on the set list, but Thompson said they are willing to play it if it’s requested.

To hear the winning jingle, visit www.bestpartofwakinup.com.

Reporter Kristi Albertson may be reached at 758-4438 or at kalbertson@dailyinterlake.com.