The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale recently partnered with the Microsoft Store located at Scottsdale Fashion Square to showcase young Club members’ excellence in the area of multimedia art as part of the Digikids Film Festival. The program encourages Club members to learn and practice in digital arts, including movie making, music making, and graphic design.
The young honorees and the public got the chance to view their movies on the big screen, courtesy of the Harkins Theatre at Scottsdale Fashion Square. After the movie screenings, the festival moved to the Microsoft Store where a red carpet and awards presentation took place.
Award Winners
Pinnacle High School students Parker Bradshaw and Harrison Mosbaugh, members of the Club’s Vestar Branch in Desert Ridge, both took home “Best Actor” honors during the event for the exceptional work in their branch’s film “Living the Dream.”
Pueblo Elementary student Nhi Tran, a member of the Rose Lane Branch in Scottsdale, was named “Best Actress” for her work in her branch’s film, “Evil Dentist.”
Desert Mountain students Jake Davis and Aaron Fugelberg, members of the Virginia G. Piper Branch in North Scottsdale, earned the “Best Music Video” crown for their “White and Nerdy” musical short.
Rounding out the North Valley-area honorees were Copper Ridge Elementary students Jillian Miller and Samara Hamideh, members of the Thunderbirds Branch in North Scottsdale, won in the category of “Best Stop Motion” for their “Koala Cake” short.
Taking home “Best Movie” honors for their “Prison Break” movie submission during the event was none other than the team from Arcadia’s own Hartley & Ruth Barker Branch, including:
* Christa Palacio, 9, of Pima Elementary School
* Diego Davila, 9, of Arcadia Neighborhood Learning Center
* Adyson Anaya, 9, of Pima Elementary School
* Iliana Morales, 10, of Pima Elementary School
* Kimberly Sierra, 9, of Tonalea Elementary School
In addition, children from the Club’s Paiute Outreach Center in Arcadia were also honored with the “Best Scary Movie” award for their “A Pauite Haunting” short film submission. These honorees are:
* Jasmine Silva, 9, of Tavan Elementary School
* Jhosevetd Gutierrez, 13, of Ingleside Middle School
* Maria Gutierrez, 13, of Ingleside Middle School
* Melonie Alvarez, 9, of Tonalea Elementary School
* Jonothan Garcia, 7, of Tavan Elementary School
* Annay Lopez, 11, of Tonalea Elementary School
Taking home “Best Action Sequence” honors during the event was none other than the team from the Salt River Pima-Maricopa’s own Lehi Branch, including:
* Thalisie Paukgana, 11, of Kerr Elementary School
* Anthony Shippley, 11, of Kerr Elementary School
* Alex Miranda, 11, of Lehi Elementary School
In addition, taking home “Best Sound Effects” honors during the event was the team from the Club’s Red Mountain Branch, also on the reservation, including:
* Victoria Maynard, 10, of Whittier Elementary School
* Mekkhi Chiago, 11, of Whittier Elementary School
* Vincent Chiago, 10, of Whittier Elementary School
* Nate Wood, 12, of Whitman Elementary School
* Jared Wood, 11, of Whitman Elementary School
* Gregorio Martinez, 11, of Whittier Elementary School
* Alacia Carlisle, 11, of Whittier Elementary School
* Georgia Carlisle, 10, of Whittier Elementary School
* Hastiin Reina, 11, of Whittier Elementary School
* Elisette Hayes, 10, of Salt River Elementary School
* Amber Dorchester, 10, of Salt River Elementary School
* Arianna Flores, 11, of Salt River Elementary School
Taking home “Best Harlem Shake” honors, a new award based on the popular viral videos popping up online each day, during the event was none other than the team from Fountain Hills’ own Mary Ellen & Robert McKee Branch. Dozens of youth members helped plan the “shake” and participated in the video.
Each team of winners will now be entered into the national competition where it will be up against regional winners in all 50 states. National winners will be announced later this summer.
In addition to seeing their work on the big screen, the kids were honored at the event with a Microsoft Store goody bag filled with over $75 worth of items including a lunch pail, sunglasses, store discount cards, games and more.
Club members worked all year to master the skills of digital art through the program. The arts, which develops creativity and cultural awareness through all different types of mediums, is just one of five core areas focused on at the Boys & Girls Clubs. The non-profit organization also promotes leadership development, education, life skills and sports, fitness and recreation through their 100 youth development programs.
“We fully support creativity through technology, and we’re excited to deepen our commitment to the Scottsdale communities by providing technology and resources to the Boys & Girls Clubs,” says Melissa Brewer, Community Development Specialist at the Microsoft Store. “We were so impressed by the grasp youth have today on software tools and technology.”
