Boys & Girls Clubs of America Announces Digital Arts Festivals and ImageMakers National Photography Contest Winners

ATLANTA, July 15, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) is pleased to announce the top youth artists of the Digital Arts Festivals and ImageMakers National Photography Contest, two member competitions from BGCA's arts initiative. This week, the national winners – 18 Boys & Girls Club teens (ages 13 to 18) – will be named during a weeklong, once-in-a-lifetime recognition trip to Los Angeles. Following the trip, the winners' artwork will be on display at BGCA National Headquarters throughout the year and online at the Digital Arts Festivals Gallery and ImageMakers Gallery.

Sponsored by Comcast and NBCUniversal, Sony Electronics Inc., and Cartoon Network, the Digital Arts Festivals and ImageMakers recognition trip is a fun-filled, educational week in which the national teen winners are treated to local cuisine, entertainment and the arts. Activities include an awards gala at the historic Globe Theatre. In addition, the teens will participate in career experiences with Comcast and NBCUniversal, including a career panel with company executives and sessions on music in film and how to pitch movie ideas; and a private tour of Universal Studios, Warner Bros. Studios and Cartoon Network Studios.

According to the National Science and Technology Council, occupations in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) are expected to grow 1.7 times faster than non-STEM occupations by 2018. Programs like BGCA's Digital Arts Festivals and ImageMakers help spark an interest in technology in teens and support the creation of a strong STEM workforce to keep up with the growing demand.

"The talent of this year's national winners is phenomenal, and we are proud to provide the teen winners with an opportunity to explore a wide variety of career paths, tour a new city and make new friends from Boys & Girls Clubs around the world," said Dr. Damon A. Williams, chief program and youth development officer of BGCA. "With the support of our partners, Boys & Girls Clubs fosters digital arts education to develop the skills of talented youth who might not otherwise have such opportunities."

Studies have shown that fewer than half of all public schools offer visual arts programs. Additionally, children from low-income families are 50 percent less likely than youth from affluent families to participate in arts programs outside of school. Thanks to program sponsors like Comcast and NBCUniversal, Sony Electronics and Cartoon Network, Boys & Girls Clubs are offering quality, affordable arts programming during the out-of-school time.

In its twelfth year, the Digital Arts Festivals invites Club members ages 6 to 18 to submit their computer-generated art in one of six categories: photo illustration, music making, graphic design, game design, movie animation and film. Each year, more than 20,000 kids participate in the Digital Arts Festivals, which are sponsored by Comcast and NBCUniversal, Sony Electronics and Cartoon Network. To learn more about the Festivals and to view artwork from this year's winners, visit the Digital Arts Festivals Gallery.

Sponsored by Sony Electronics, the ImageMakers National Photography Contest has a rich, 50-plus-year history in Boys & Girls Clubs. The contest calls upon youth, ages 6 to 18, to capture photographs in four categories: culture and tradition, portraits, surroundings, and photo with essay or poem. To learn more about ImageMakers and to view artwork from this year's winners, visit the ImageMakers Gallery.   

The 2014 national winners of the Digital Arts Festivals are:

• Photo Illustration Category
  • Ilija K., 9, "We Are All One," Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter County (Ind.)
  • Elianna R., 12, "Together United," Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson (Ariz.)
  • Baylee P., 15, "Hands 2013," Boys & Girls Club of La Plata County, Inc. (Colo.)
  • Julisa Z., 16, "Now We Have a Dream," Boys & Girls Clubs of Venice (Calif.)
• Music Category
  • Naesha G., 10, "We Call Diversity," Lawrence Boys & Girls Club (Mass.)
  • Chauncey J., 12, "We Won't Stop," Boys & Girls Club of Springfield (Mo.)
  • Christian N., 14, "Unstoppable," Boys & Girls Club of San Marcos (Calif.)
  • Sam W., 18, "On Top of the World," Boys & Girls Club of Dane County (Wisc.)
• Graphic Design Category
  • Majesty M., 8, "Don't Talk Trash," Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands, Inc. (Neb.)
  • Azaliya C., 12, "Keep it Peaceful," Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula (Calif.)
  • Paris E., 15, "Be Stronger Together," Boys & Girls Clubs of Sierra County (N.M.)
  • Jasmine L., 18, "D.I.V.E.R.S.I.T.Y," Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County (Fla.)
• Game Design Category
  • Zachary M., 11, "Bully Stopper," Ramstein Youth Programs (Germany)
  • Sanja K., 13, "Driving Change," Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter County (Ind.)
• Movie Film Category
  • Autumn S., 10, "Rosa Parks: Mother of All Freedom," Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands, Inc. (Neb.)
  • Leilani S., 11, "My Role Model," Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica (Calif.)
  • Adrian A., 16, "Adrian and Lauren," Boys & Girls Clubs of the East Valley (Ariz.)
  • Sheyenne A., 16, "Innocence," Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands, Inc. (Neb.)
• Movie Animation Category
  • Abigal F., 9 and Aidan D., 9, "Magical Recycling Buddies," Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale (Ariz.)
  • Alexis F., 12 and Deenah S., 12, "Stopping Bullies," Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale (Ariz.)
  • Sanja K., 13, "Give a Hand," Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter County (Ind.)
  • Taylor C., 16, "Color," Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter County (Ind.)

The 2014 national winners of the ImageMakers National Photography Contest are:

• Culture and Tradition Category:
  • Alayr C., 7, "Fans of China," Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford (Conn.)
  • Kaven H., 11, "Basketball is Life," Children and Youth Programs, Camp Pendleton (Calif.)
  • Victoria K., 14, "Untitled," Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale (Ariz.)
  • Becca H., 16, "Freedom," Boys & Girls Club of Springfield (Mo.)
• Portraits Category:
  • Zimari A., 9, "Self Portrait," Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco (Calif.)
  • Samuel B., 12, "Mr. Shaun," USAG Baumholder CYS Services (Germany)
  • Charity F., 15, "Blissful with Bubbles," Boys & Girls Clubs of Saint Lucie County (Fla.)
  • Christian P., 16, "Thoughts," Boys & Girls Clubs of the Virginia Peninsula (Va.)
• Surroundings Category:
  • William C., 8, "Sea Birds at Herrenchiemsee," USAG Garmisch CYS Services (Germany)
  • Madison G., 11, "Molten Barn," RAF Menwith Hill Youth Center (England)
  • Corah P., 14, "Green," USAG Kaiserslautern Youth Services (Germany)
  • Hassan L., 16, "The Flip Side," Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay (Fla.)
• Photo with Essay or Poem Category:
  • Rain J., 8, "Love Tree," Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine (Maine)
  • Rikki Ann O., 10, "Walk with Me," Eielson Air Force Base Youth Center (Alaska)
  • Samantha C., 13, "The Call of the Rain," Edwards Air Force Base Youth Activities (Calif.)
  • Zach M., 18, "Travel Is What Moves Me," Boys & Girls Clubs of North Alabama (Ala.)

About Boys & Girls Clubs of America
For more than 100 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (GreatFutures.org) has enabled young people most in need to achieve great futures as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, more than 4,100 Clubs serve nearly 4 million young people annually through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native lands throughout the country, and serve military families in BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. They provide a safe place, caring adult mentors, fun, friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Priority programs emphasize academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. In a Harris Survey of alumni, 57 percent said the Club saved their lives. National headquarters are located in Atlanta. Learn more at http://www.bgca.org/facebook and http://bgca.org/twitter.

SOURCE Boys & Girls Clubs of America