2020 G4C Student Challenge Wrap Up!
July 2, 2020 / by Cassie Baralis
Games for Change is thrilled to share the results of the 5th annual G4C Student Challenge competition – and to recognize the talented young game designers who emerged as winners of the 2020 game design competition.
Despite new challenges posed by school closures and COVID-19, the 2020 competition was the most successful to date. In addition to engaging students in NYC, LA, Atlanta and Detroit (where the full-year Challenge program runs), this year’s competition expanded nationally, inviting middle and high school students throughout the country to participate. Through the competition students were challenged to design and code digital games that addressed four important impact themes for teens today:
A Clean & Happy Earth (supported by Truth)
Inclusive Play: Designing Games for All (supported by AT&T)
Get the Party Started (supported by iCivics)
Benefits of the Human-Animal Bond (supported by Wallis Annenberg PetSpace)
In the end, 1,600 middle and high school students submitted nearly 1,000 original games to the 2020 Student Challenge game design competition. Following a rigorous 3-round jury process involving 160 professionals from the games, social impact and education sectors, G4C identified 124 finalist games, which are showcased at the first-ever online G4C Student Arcade.
On June 17th, G4C revealed 33 winning games and 5 grand prize winners during a Virtual Awards Ceremony on YouTube Live. Students won prizes including Best Buy Gift Certificates, video games from Ubisoft, EA, Visual Concepts and Adult Swim, theme-related experiences and more. Each Grand Prize Winning student also received a $1,000 Scholarship, generously provided by Take-Two Interactive.
G4C also honored four cohort educators (1 from each Challenge city) with a Leadership Award. The Leadership Award represents a commitment on the behalf of the teacher to the program as well as a dedication to helping their students gain critical 21st Century skills while addressing real world, relevant topics. Recipients included:
Luna Ramirez (Information Technology High School in NYC)
John Landa (Girls Academic Leadership Academy in LA)
Vicki Robertson (Brookhaven Innovation Academy in Atlanta)
Misty May (Brenda Scott Academy in Detroit)
Thank You to the coalition of partners who supported this year’s program, including: General Motors, Annenberg Learner, Annenberg Foundation, Endless, Motorola Solutions Foundation, Two Bit Circus Foundation, Detroit Public School Community District, the National Endowment for the Arts, Bigglesworth Family Foundation, and NYC Department of Cultural Affairs.
We look forward to working with our teacher cohorts and city partners during the 2020-2021 program – and to launching new resources and curriculum to support the national competition!
