Video Game Challenge Announces Sponsors and Partners for Third Year of National Competition
Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop and E-Line Media to Launch Competition in 2013 to Motivate Interest in STEM Learning
The Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop and E-Line Media today announced the sponsors and partners for the 2013 National STEM Video Game Challenge.
For the third year, the AMD Foundation, Microsoft’s Xbox 360 and the Entertainment Software Association are returning as sponsors of the Challenge. Joining the group are new partners the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and the Hive NYC Learning Network, who will reach out to underserved youth across the country through hands-on game design workshops and other supplemental curriculum activities.
This year’s Challenge will also unite a corps of outreach partners and mentors who will be instrumental in supporting youth and teacher participation including BrainPop, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting PBS KIDS Ready To Learn Initiative, Learning Games Network and Edmodo.
The National STEM Video Game Challenge is a multi-year competition that aims to motivate interest in STEM learning among America’s youth by tapping into students’ natural passion for playing and making video games. Middle and high school students across the country are challenged to create original video games on any subject matter of interest to them, individually or as teams, and to submit their games for the opportunity to win important recognition for themselves and their communities. The Challenge was inspired by the Educate to Innovate Campaign, President Obama’s initiative to promote a renewed focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education.
“Today far too many young Americans face an opportunity divide – a gap between those who have the education, skills or opportunities to achieve their dreams and those who do not. At the same time, our nation faces an increasing shortage of individuals with the skills necessary to fill the high-tech jobs of today and tomorrow,” said Fred Humphries, Vice President of U.S. Government Affairs at Microsoft. “The National STEM Video Game Challenge is one way we can help expose youth to the interesting opportunities available in our industry. These exciting projects show that developing technology skills can lead long-term to fun, innovative careers.”
More than 3,700 middle and high school youth participated in the 2012 Challenge, a 650% increase over its inaugural year. Twenty-eight talented young winners were honored at a special reception at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., and two lucky winners from the previous year presented their games at the White House Science Fair last February.
The 2013 Challenge will launch in January with a new website that will include game design tools, activities, and resources for students and mentors. More information is available at www.stemchallenge.org.
The Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop is an independent, non-profit research center that is fostering innovation in children’s learning through digital media. The Cooney Center conducts and supports research, creates educational models and interactive media properties and builds cross-sector partnerships. The Cooney Center is named for Sesame Workshop’s founder, who revolutionized television with the creation of Sesame Street. Core funding is provided by the generous support of Peter G. Peterson and Sesame Workshop. Learn more at www.joanganzcooneycenter.org.
E-Line Media is a publisher of game-based learning products and services that engage, educate and empower, helping to prepare youth for lives and careers in the 21st Century. E-Line works with leading foundations, academics, non-profits and government agencies to harness the power of games for learning, health, and social impact. Find out more at www.elinemedia.com.
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Contacts:
Jodi Lefkowitz
Sesame Workshop
212-875-6497
jodi.lefkowitz@sesame.org
Dan Hewitt
Entertainment Software Association
202-223-2400
dhewitt@theESA.com
Kerri Schlottman
E-Line Media
646-580-8593
kschlottman@elinemedia.com
