Parent Kim Johnson looks at some of the winning photographs at the 10th Annual Technology and the Arts Competition Awards. Photo by Reena Singh.
Think S.T.E.A.M, not S.T.E.M.
That was the message Leidos Director of Advertising, Branding and Creative Chris Green told a group of student artists at the 10th Annual Technology and the Arts Competition Awards at the ASCE World Headquarters in Reston on May 14.
S.T.E.A.M is adding art to the push for science, technology, engineering and math in education recently.
He showed a picture of business mogul Warren Buffett next to one of famed artist Jackson Pollock. Then he said the students could choose to have it all in the world of creating ads and doing graphic designs for world-renowned companies in their backyard rather than living as stereotypical starving artists.
“We have the obligation to take what we’re best at and help the rest of the world that is dealing with terrible things,” he said.
Additionally, he said most companies look for good attitude and effort when hiring fresh graduates. He said those two factors are key to finding an occupation they love - not just in the art world, but in all professions.
“You don’t see major talent there, do you?” he asked. “You see attitude and effort.”
The students were granted with scholarships from event sponsor Herndon Council of the Arts and presented with a U.S. Congress resolution congratulating them on the award, on behalf of Rep. Gerry Connolly.
“I had a lot of things on my mind,” said winner of the Arts Council for Fairfax Uphoff Award scholarship Adrian Caballero. “I decided, why not put them in an animation.”
The 19-year-old from Lake Braddock Secondary School started taking graphic arts in ninth grade and thought that animation would be fun to learn. He said he wanted to thank his teacher, Mrs. Dim, for all her help.
He also was awarded second place in digital animation for his piece: “I draw.”
He plans on majoring in information technology when in college.
Second place winner of the digital art award, 18-year-old Cheyanne Oakton started taking photography classes three years ago. She said the photo, taken on a field trip, was meant to be a present for her teacher.
“I actually took it for my government teacher, because he loves photography,” she said. “I was so focused on my college portfolio, but my photography teacher made me [enter the competition].”
She plans to continue taking photography at Northern Virginia Community College before transferring to a four year school.
CAH Executive Director Signe Friedrichs said the digital art competition was originally started for students in Herndon who were blending art with technology.
“What I believe is when the previous executive director was in the position 10 years ago, her son and daughter were artistically and technologically inclined,” Friedrichs said.
The competition quickly opened to students throughout the county afterwards. She said Congressman Connolly - who was a part of a company that previously sponsored the program - has been a major champion for the program since the beginning.
“We are definitely looking for new sponsorships for artists and students,” she said.