Rodrigo Huerta, a student in Texas A&M University’s Master of Science in Visualization Sciences program, was selected by Sony Pictures Imageworks as the top scholarship winner in a nationwide competition of students preparing themselves for careers in digital animation.
The scholarship is from Imageworks’ Professional Academic Excellence (IPAX) program. Through the IPAX scholarship fund, Luis will receive tuition money toward his master’s degree in visualization Texas A&M as well as animation courses he’s taking through Animation Mentor, an online animation school.
“This is an exciting and unexpected turn of events for us to see a student’s work benefit from attending two IPAX schools concurrently,” said Sande Scoredos, executive director of training and artist development at Imageworks and the head of the IPAX program. “It is the best of both worlds and a true vision of collaboration in education to produce outstanding talent.”
“Tim McLaughlin, head of the Department of Visualization at the Texas A&M University College of Architecture and Bobby Beck, founder of Animation Mentor, are both to be commended for their excellent contribution and are extremely proud of Rodrigo and this IPAX award,” said Scoredos.
Sony Pictures Imageworks Inc. is an Academy Award-winning, state-of-the-art digital production studio dedicated to the art of visual effects production and character animation.
The company’s achievements have been recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences with Oscars for its work on “Spiderman 2” and the CG animated short film “The Chubbchubbs!” In 2008, “Surf’s Up” was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
In 2007, two of Imageworks' projects, the all-CG animated feature “Monster House” and “Superman Returns”, were nominated for Academy Awards in the Best Animated Feature and Outstanding Achievement in Visual Effects, respectively.
Scoredos created IPAX in 2005 to educate faculty and structure curricula at leading academic institutions in an effort to develop future talent that will contribute to the growth of the visual effects and animation industry.
In addition to providing IPAX member schools the opportunity to attend in-house training programs and experience a working production environment, giving instructors valuable knowledge and skills to return to the classroom with, the program also provides a collaborative global knowledge exchange between IPAX member schools and faculty, their students and Imageworks.
The IPAX Scholarship Program encourages the best of each member school to continue his or her pursuit of a quality education and to enter the visual effects and animation industry.
The other scholarship recipients are Jorge Garcia, a character animator from Ringling College of Art & Design in Sarasota, Fla., Rogelio Olguin, from The School of Visual Arts in New York City, both of whom submitted examples of painting and lighting, and Christian Haniszewski, also from the School of Visual Arts, who showed character modeling and rigging in his submission.
Huerta and his fellow scholarship winners are enrolled fulltime at their respective IPAX member schools and are pursuing the goal of professional careers in animation, visual effects, or technology.
Scoredos said a record number of students submitted applications this year and the four recipients’ submissions represent exceptional work of the highest standards.
The selection committee, consisting of Imageworks visual effects and animation supervisors, producers, executives and recruiters, reviewed each essay, reel and portfolio, looking for the best use of digital technology and a passion and understanding of visual effects and animation.
“It is especially rewarding to see a student from one of our newest IPAX members, Texas A&M, receive an award,” said Imageworks’ Barry Weiss, senior vice president of animation production and artist development.
“The work submitted was truly outstanding and the winners represent the best of the best -- these are students who we want to track and keep in touch with before, during and after graduation,” said Weiss. “Our intent is to see these talented students enter the exciting world of animation and visual effects and we hope these artists will want to work at Imageworks and Sony Pictures Animation.”
For more information on IPAX and the IPAX Scholarship Program, visit www.imageworks.com.
