Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter County, as part of its year-round Photography Program sponsored nationwide by Sony, held its annual ImageMakers Photography Contest on March 18, 2014.
The ImageMakers program teaches youth the art and science of photography, and includes opportunities to compete in the Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA)’s ImageMakers National Photography Contest, which has a rich, 50-plus-year history in Boys & Girls Clubs, and the photography category of the Digital Arts Festivals.
Artistic creations from four different age groups, and in four different artistic categories were judged by a panel of five individuals including: professional photographer Estes Ivory, Rick and Jodi Bella of Bella Photography, Analisa Warring of Regional Federal Credit Union, Shawn Dickt of MacLennan & Bain Insurance, and Melissa Marshall of Beauty Pros. With over approximately 40 Club members competing locally in Porter County, and with more than 38,000 kids participating annually nationwide, the ImageMakers National Photography Contest invited young people to capture photographs in four different categories: culture and tradition, surroundings, portraits and photo with essay or poem. Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter County is pleased to announce the winners of its local ImageMakers Photography Contest. The winners are:
Culture and Tradition Category:
Bree White, “Rubberband Bracelets,” 6-9 age group, member of the Kidstop-Simatovich Elementary School
Adam Garrido, “The Old West,” 10-12 age group, member of the South Haven Unit
Hayley Adams, “Touched by An Angel,” 13-15 age group, South Haven Unit
Hannah Brown, “Lost in Faith,” 16-18 age group, South Haven Unit
Surroundings Category:
Madalynn Davis, “The Canyon,” 6-9 age group, South Haven Unit
Nathan Kirk, “Untitled,” 10-12 age group, Valparaiso Unit
Sanja Kirova, “Youth,” 13-15 age group, Forrest “Dusty” Rhode Portage Unit
Hanna Brown, “A Man and His Train,” 16-18 age group, South Haven Unit
Portraits Category:
Anna Koutelas, “Leafing Away, 6-9 age group, South Haven Unit
Daeton Spicer, “The Youth Wizard,” 10-12 age group, Forrest “Dusty” Rhode Portage Unit
Taylor Quinn, “Summer Time Sadness,” 13-15 age group, South Haven Unit
Hannah Brown, “Deuces,” 16-18 age group, South Haven Unit
One of a Kind Category (Photo with Essay: What Makes Something or Someone One of a Kind?): Ava Allen, “Nature’s Finest,” 6-9 age group, South Haven Unit
Adam Garrido, “Molly the Turtle,” 10-12 age group, South Haven Unit
Hayley Adams, “A Voice,” 13-15 age group, South Haven Unit
As a local winner, these young people will advance to regional competition for a chance to advance to the national competition this spring. The regional competition includes a 13-state region, and the competition will be held at Boys & Girls Clubs of Dundee Township in Carpentersville, IL. National winners’ artwork will be featured by Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) throughout the year, and the winners will receive educational opportunities to celebrate their success.
“We are proud of our young people whose artwork has been recognized with the local awards of the ImageMakers National Photography Contest and wish each of them luck as they advance to the regional competition,” said Ryan Smiley, President of Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter County. “We are grateful to Sony Electronics for their support in providing our Club access to programs and tools in the area of photography to educate and engage all young people in the arts.”
Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter County has been opening doors to GREAT FUTURES for Porter County’s youth since 1971. The Clubs provide high quality programs for nearly 5,000 boys and girls supporting academic success, good character and citizenship development, and healthy lifestyle education. 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 bgcpoco.org. Great Futures Start HERE.