Celebrating the Games for Change Student Challenge LA Finalists and Winners

Author: Stacie Pierpoint

On Saturday June 2, LAUSD students, families, teachers, and community members gathered at Cross Campus in downtown LA to celebrate the finalists for the Games for Change Student Challenge in Los Angeles. This is the third annual Games for Change Student Challenge. The Annenberg Foundation, Annenberg Learner, and AnnenbergTech sponsored the G4C Student Challenge in Los Angeles, the first west coast presence of the competition and program. Read about the 2017-18 program in this post.

Almost 200 games were submitted in Los Angeles and judged in three rounds. Jurors included industry professionals from DICE and Riot Games, Los Angeles-area nonprofit organizations and theme partners, and volunteers studying game design in universities.

Finalists, winners, and their teachers received cool prizes provided by the Annenberg Foundation, National Wildlife Federation, Born This Way Foundation, Common Sense Education, Entertainment Arts, and Games for Change.

The ceremony opened with an arcade of the finalists’ games. Families and community members played the video games and talked with the students.

Then actress Anjali Bhimani emceed an Awards Ceremony. Allison Holmes from the Annenberg Foundation and Susanna Pollack from Games for Change kicked off the ceremony by welcoming the students and guests and explaining the program this year. Anjali presented awards for each theme category, alongside representatives from the National Wildlife Federation and Common Sense Education.

The winners were called on stage to receive their trophies and answer questions from Anjali about their games. Susanna Pollack presented each of the grand prize winners with a $1000 scholarship from Take-Two Interactives. The Annenberg Foundation also gave a bonus $100 to all 32 finalists.

Below is the list of finalists and their games! Congratulations to students and their teachers!

Keep an eye on the Games for Change Student Challenge website to view and play the winning games.

High School

Kindness & Empathy

The Stress Quiz, by Kiev G. and Christopher B. from STEM Academy of Hollywood (WINNER)

Rescue Mission, by Seth G., Naja M. and Raquel S. from STEM Academy of Hollywood

 Wildlife Conservation

Cougar, by Naomi M. of Girls Academic Leadership Academy (WINNER)

Save the Cougars of LA, by Brayan G. and Ivan P. of STEM Academy of Hollywood

Roadkill Escape, by Alyssa L. of STEM Academy of Hollywood

News Literacy

News to You, by Stephanie R. and Louis P.  of STEM Academy of Hollywood (WINNER)

Middle School

Kindness & Empathy

Me, My Friends, and I, by Devin L. of Florence Nightingale Middle School (WINNER)

Translove, by Jolette A., Jesus G., Odyssey H., Victoria H. of South Gate Middle School

Kindness, by Juan R. of Francisco Sepulveda Middle School

Kindness, by Osckar L. of Francisco Sepulveda Middle School

Kinthy, by Fabiola F., Emily A., Andrea G., and Pamela A. of South Gate Middle School

Wildlife Conservation

Mountain Lion Maze of Life, by Isaac T. and Jomo H. of William Mulholland Middle School (WINNER and GRAND PRIZE)

The Journey of P-22, by Cesar S. of Francisco Sepulveda Middle School

Dodge the Predator, by Lluvia C. of Florence Nightingale Middle School

 News Literacy

Gossip!, by Celeste V., Phoebe C., Julissa M., and Giselle M., of South Gate Middle School (WINNER)

News Teacher, Bryan F. of Francisco Sepulveda Middle School

G4C Newspaper Literacy, by Taylor H. of Francisco Sepulveda Middle School

 

Please write [email protected] if you have questions about the event or about the Games for Change Student Challenge.