Boys & Girls Club Member to Compete for National Prize in Photo Tech Category
Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) named Tyler Goodman the regional winner in its 10th Annual Club Tech Digital Arts Festivals competition for his entry in the Photo Tech category. As a regional winner, Goodman will move on to represent the Midwest region at the national level of competition for the 13-15 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. Goodman’s poster creation, entitled Building a Safe Place, showcased his creativity and tech skills learned at The Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter County-South Haven Club. The entry will be judged by a panel of national experts.
“Through the Club Tech Digital Arts Festivals we’re able to inspire our future designers, game developers, filmmakers and musicians,” said Dan 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.
“With Club 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.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter County has been serving youth for 40 years. The Clubs provide programs for more than 5,000 boys and girls in the areas of character and leadership development, educational enhancement, career preparation, health and life skills, the arts and sports, fitness and recreation.
For more information on membership, volunteer opportunities or to make a tax deductible donation to Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter County, please contact your local Club, call (219) 464-7282 or visit www.bgcpoco.org. Great Futures Start HERE.
About Club Tech
Club Tech was created by Boys & Girls Clubs of America (www.bgca.org/clubtech) and Microsoft (www.microsoft.com) in 2000 to technologically enable Clubs worldwide, transforming Clubs from "swim and gym" to "point and click" destinations. Partnering with longtime supporter Comcast (www.comcast.com) and Microsoft, BGCA provides technology program access to some 4 million youth served through Club membership and community outreach at nearly 4,000 Clubs. By leveling the virtual playing field, kids of all ages and circumstances now have access to the same resources and skills to help them discover their world, expand creativity, perform better in school, and eventually take their technology know-how into the workplace.
Photos:
- South Haven Boys & Girls Club Member Tyler Goodman is pictured with the certificate he was awarded for his entry in the Photo Tech category of the 10th Annual Club Tech Digital Arts Festivals competition.
- Tyler Goodman’s winning poster creation titled Building a Safe Place.