Hundreds of teens and their parents, friends and teachers, kicked off a week of activities celebrating youth created media projects at the Crest Theater Friday night May 4. For the first time in the 16 year history of the Teen Digital Showcase, Access Sacramento, UC Davis – School of Education, and The California Endowment, awarded $750 in Apple product gift cards to projects juried from Teen Digital project entries. Ron Cooper, Access Sacramento Executive Director, presented the “My Voice Counts” awards and t-shirts. The winning projects were:
First Place – “Texting and Driving – It Can Wait” from Christian Brothers High School students Jessica Szarek and Ryan Peadboy.
Second Place – “Think Before You Act” by Granite Bay High School students Eric Urmanita and Carson Johnson.
The evening was introduced by Dr. Bill Bronston, the inspiring leader of Tower of Youth activities now celebrating their 16th Anniversary. He introduced the special guest for the evening, Michael Lester.
Michael, a product of the Tower of Youth program and educated at Ex’pression College for Digital Arts, joined Spy Post, a small post effects house in San Francisco, in an effort to build a visual effects division in the company. As Computer Graphics Supervisor, Michael has spent his time creating a pipeline that could facilitate premier visual effects to be created quickly and efficiently.
Tower of Youth is an all teen youth media and communication arts organization dedicated to organize and promote digital literacy, education system modernization, a world class media workforce, economic and community development through its training, partnership networking and media entries programs. YOUTH ARE THE SOLUTION, NOT THE PROBLEM!
Congratulations to all the youth involved. Keep up the great work – remember “My Voice Counts!”
