Judges from the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival think Matthew George’s ’11 new play is udderly good.

George’s “Cow Play,” which had its world premier at the Whitney Humanities Center last fall before advancing to the regional level of KCACTF in January, has been named the runner-up for the Center’s National Student Playwriting Award. George will receive a $500 cash prize (the first place winner receives $2,500), a two-week residency at the O’Neill Playwrights’ Conference this summer and an all expenses paid trip to the National Festival at the Kennedy Center in April where he’ll officially be presented his award.

“I am very honored and happy about getting the runner-up,” George said. “There are a lot of plays out there and I’m happy one called “Cow Play” could even be considered for an award.”

The play was one of 15 finalists for the prize that were chosen from a much larger pool of submissions from across the country. In addition to the playwriting award, the production as directed by Charlie Polinger ’13 and featuring Willa Fitzgerald ’13, Alex Kramer ’13 and Will Turner ’11 came in third place for the David Mark Cohen award, a prize given to the outstanding productions of new works.

“It goes without saying that the script never would have been as strong as it is without the amazingly talented and creative people who worked on the production back in October,” George said.

And “Cow Play” may moo again: George and company have applied to perform in the New York International Fringe Festival in hopes of reviving the production this summer.