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SPC to host video and gaming contests

A Summer Academy, the SEmmys and a tournament will lure digital media students.

By ANNE LINDBERG
Published April 1, 2007

SEMINOLE - Leaders at St. Petersburg College's Seminole Campus have spent the past several years working hard to develop a reputation as the place for students who want to learn about digital media.

This month, kids interested in digital media and video gaming have three chances to take advantage of the college's expertise.

They can compete for film awards in the fourth annual SEmmys. They can play in a video tournament. And high-schoolers can earn college credit by applying for admission to a new summer program designed especially for them.

"All of our campuses have strengths," campus provost Jim Olliver said.

The Seminole campus has its Digital Media Program, while the St. Petersburg campus is known for its music programs and the Pinellas Park campus will house a school of orthotics and prosthetics, he said.

The campus does not limit the program to its students. Olliver has made sure that others, especially high school students, have an opportunity to sample the program's offerings in an effort to help lure top students to enroll.

The SEmmy Video and Web Awards are open both to SPC students and kids from Pinellas County high schools. The awards honor "anything in video," said Delynda Keefe, the head of the college's Digital Media department. Categories include Best Convergent Technology, Best Direction and Best Video Production.

Kids, and others, who are more into games than making videos will have a chance to compete in the college's April 12 video game tournament. Players ages 18 and older will have a chance to play Gears of War or Super Smash Brothers Melee. Those who want to play both will have a chance, because there is more than one session.

Only one game can be played per session. Those in high school ages 13 and older will have access only to Super Smash Brothers Melee.

SPC's newest digital media offering is the Digital Media Academy. The academy includes three courses that allow students to explore and experience SPC's Digital Media program. Each student will take Introduction to Multimedia, then can choose another course - either Survey of Digital Video or Survey of Game Development. Some classes are offered both online and in the classroom.

Some students can get both high school and college credit for the courses, but a teen does not have to enroll in the dual-credit curriculum to take part in the academy.

At a glance

The SEmmys

SPC's 2007 SEmmy Video and Web Awards will be at 7 p.m. April 19 in the Digitorium at the Seminole Campus, 9200 113th St. N, Seminole. Entry deadline is 4 p.m. April 9. For an application, e-mail the Provost's Office at se_info@spcollege.edu or call 394-6111.

The tournament

SPC is hosting a video game tournament from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. April 12 at the Seminole Campus in Portables 603 and 604. The competition is open to anyone ages 13 and older. The entry deadline is Thursday.

Summer Academy

SPC's Digital Media Summer Academy is open to high school students. Orientation is at 6:30 p.m. April 24. The academy runs from June 11 through July 18. Information is available at www.spcollege.edu/se/Digital_Media/.

[Last modified March 31, 2007, 20:23:27]