Council Bluffs Club Member Wins Regional Photo Tech Competition
Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) named Austin Hadfield the Midwest regional winner in its 10th AnnualClub Tech Digital Arts Festivals competition for his entry in the Photo Tech category. As a regional winner, Hadfield, 17 will move on to represent the Midwest region at the national level of competition for the 16-18 age group.
For the Photo Tech category, Boys & Girls Club members were asked to create a poster that showcased citizens engaged in activities that give back to their community or depicts someone who models good character. Hadfield’s poster creation, entitled Great Leadership showcased his creativity and tech skills learned at The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Midlands. The entry will be judged by a panel of national experts.
Austin H.'s winning submission: Great Leadership
“Through theClub TechDigital Arts Festivals we’re able to inspire our future designers, game developers, filmmakers and musicians,” saidDan Rauzi, senior director of technology programs, Boys & Girls Clubs of America. “It is amazing what our kids and teens can do when given access to technology and allowed to express themselves creatively.”
Club Tech Digital Arts Festivals allow BGCA, along with founding sponsor Microsoft and Comcast, to give young people an avenue to get creative and design original pieces of digital artwork—from posters and PSAs to stop-motion animation and logos. The competition is one component of the Club Tech program which teaches critical technology skills. Members from across the globe, age 6-18 can take the tech skills they’ve learned through their Boys & Girls Clubs and enter various categories. In 2010, more than 20,000 young people participated in local contests.
“WithClub Tech, members are introduced to the world of clay animation, robotics, game design, digital movie making, photo illustration, graphic design and music production,” added Rauzi. “We’re giving them real-world skills that will not only help them excel in school, but create a future career.”
National teen winners receive an expenses-paid summer trip that includes sightseeing and job-shadowing experiences. In years past, winners have visited colleges and the offices of large corporations such as Microsoft, Comcast and Best Buy to get a behind-the-scenes look at potential careers.
The Festivals are just one way that Boys & Girls Clubs of America, founding sponsor Microsoft and Comcast hope to technologically enable some 4 million youth served by some 4,000 Clubs nationwide and abroad through Club membership and community outreach. Club Tech also provides software, develops and delivers curricula, and provides program management and computer training for staff and youth. The sponsorship allows Clubs to integrate technology into every aspect of the organization’s fabric, from overall management to core programs. To learn more about the technology programs offered at Boys & Girls Clubs, visit www.bgca.org/clubtech.
