Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) named South Haven Club member, Vince Benavidez a national winner in its 13th Annual Digital Arts Festivals/ImageMakers competition supported by Sony Electronics, Inc. Benavidez earned top honor in the 16-18 age category for Music Making for his piece “My Life.”
The Digital Arts Festivals features six categories including Music Making, Photo Illustration, Game Design, Graphic Design, Film and Animation. The Festivals allow BGCA to give young people an avenue to get creative and design original pieces of digital artwork – from songs and photography to stop-motion animation and short films. The competition is one component of BGCA’s technology program which teaches critical technology skills to Club members ages 6-18.
“Through the Digital Arts Festivals we’re able to inspire our future photographers, designers, game developers, filmmakers and musicians,” said Ryan Smiley, president of Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter County. “It is amazing what our Club youth can do when given access to technology and allowed to express talents in creative ways.”
As a national winner in the teen division, Club member Benavidez, along with teen winners from across the United States in all six categories, will receive an expenses-paid summer trip to San Diego, July 13 - 16, 2015. This trip will include an awards gala; career experiences with a panel of company executives and sessions on music in film and how to pitch movie ideas; and much more!
“Of the 18 youth selected nationwide to attend this amazing event, Vince will be representing our Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter County organization. Last year, we had two national winners in stop motion animation and game design. We are more than proud of Vince’s accomplishments as he also was named 2015 Youth of the Year for our South Haven Club,” stated Mark Jones, director of operations for Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter County.
Each year, around 20,000 Club youth from across the globe compete in local festivals. The Festivals are just one way that BGCA provides technology access to nearly 4 million youth served by more than 4,000 Clubs nationwide and abroad. To learn more about the Digital Arts Festivals and to view past national winners visit our Digital Arts Festivals Gallery.