Computer Game Design

�鶹��Ƶ Korea hosts record-breaking digital art competition

Katarina Benson — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 16:20:04 +0000

�鶹��Ƶ Korea hosts record-breaking digital art competition Katarina Benson Thu, 06/05/2025 - 12:20

The fifth annual Progress@Play Social Impact Digital Art Competition has successfully concluded with an award ceremony at �鶹��Ƶ’s Korea campus. This year’s competition was supported by the Incheon Metropolitan Office of Education and the Game Culture Foundation.

This year’s competition centered on creative ideas and sustainable solutions to emerging social issues and attracted a record 255 teams of middle school, high school, and university students from Korea and abroad. Participants presented their ideas through various digital formats, including animations, webtoons, computer games, videos, and illustrations. Notably, many submissions focused on the psychological and social effects of social media, reflecting concerns shared across generations.

Progress@Play exhibition. Photo provided

The ceremony brought together student finalists and their families, as well as �鶹��Ƶ Korea leadership and staff, and Computer Game Design Program faculty James Broderick and John McGrew. Special guests included Cheolsoo Son, director of secondary Education at the Incheon Metropolitan Office of Education, and Hyunkyung Kim, director of the Game Culture Education Center at the Game Culture Foundation.

“This year’s entries offered sharp insights into the social issues driven by social media,” said Broderick, an assistant professor of computer game design who also served as a competition judge. “While previous years often explored traditional themes like the environment, human rights, and aging, this year reflected a shift toward challenges faced by digital natives—including online performative culture and psychological effects of social media. It signals an expanding spectrum of social awareness among youth.”

Entries were evaluated by �鶹��Ƶ Korea’s Computer Game Design faculty and external experts for social impact, quality, creativity, and artistic merit.

The top prize in the middle/high school division was awarded to Hyunbi Kim of Korea Animation High School for the project "Have You Seen the Southern Land?" while Yoonsik Kang of Sejong University took first place in the university division with "Omniscient."

The Korea Animation High School team won for their project "Have You Seen the Southern Land?" Photo provided

All winners received cash prizes. Middle and high school awardees also earned a certificate from the superintendent of the Incheon Metropolitan Office of Education and a $2,000 scholarship (USD) upon admission to �鶹��Ƶ Korea.

“This competition has created a meaningful platform for students and the public to engage with Korea’s evolving social issues,” said Joshua Park, campus dean of �鶹��Ƶ Korea. “Through our Computer Game Design Program and Korea Serious Game Institute, �鶹��Ƶ Korea delivers a distinctive practice-based education. We remain committed to strengthening collaborations with academic, industry, and public-sector partners to serve as a trusted global hub for innovation and learning.”

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�鶹��Ƶ Korea to Host 2025 Korea-US-Japan eSports Tournament

Pam Muirheid — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 15:35:54 +0000

�鶹��Ƶ Korea to Host 2025 Korea-US-Japan eSports Tournament Pam Muirheid Thu, 03/27/2025 - 11:35

Original article written by Lee Sang-beom in N News (Korea), March 25, 2025:

�鶹��Ƶ Korea will host the '2025 Korea-U.S.-Japan eSports Tournament' in collaboration with the U.S. Embassy in Korea, the U.S. Embassy in Japan, and Coupang. Photo by Ji Kang

�鶹��Ƶ Korea, in collaboration with the U.S. Embassy in Korea, the U.S. Embassy in Japan, and Coupang, will host the 2025 Korea-U.S.-Japan eSports Tournament, a global initiative to foster strategic thinking, teamwork, and digital engagement among young gamers from Korea, the U.S., and Japan.

This tournament is an innovative global program where participants will learn teamwork, leadership, and conflict resolution through gaming as an eSport, and is an educational platform that develops essential cognitive and collaborative skills in a competitive environment while strengthening trilateral relations among Korea, the United States, and Japan. The eSports Tournament is open to young Korean, American, and Japanese citizens aged 20-39, and requires English communication skills.

Participants will participate in online training and weekly activities from April to May, and will participate in the eSports tournament in Incheon in June.

Through this tournament, �鶹��Ƶ Korea will provide a special opportunity for young gamers to communicate with peers from diverse cultural backgrounds and improve their problem-solving skills, adaptability, and leadership capabilities. Professor Sang Nam, Professor of Computer Game Design at �鶹��Ƶ, Co-Director of Virginia Functional Game Research Institute, and Director of Korea Functional Game Research Institute, said:

"This '2025 Korea-US-Japan eSports Tournament' is an innovative platform designed to promote digital literacy, cross-cultural collaboration, and leadership development beyond games as entertainment and competition." He added, "We are pleased to demonstrate the role of eSports as a bridge to strengthen trilateral cooperation among Korea, the United States, and Japan."

“The trilateral partnership among the United States, Japan, and Korea is a vital component of our shared effort to ensure safety, security, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region,” said Joshua Lustig, Public Diplomacy Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul. “We anticipate that the 2025 Korea-U.S.-Japan eSports Tournament will bring our three countries closer together by further strengthening the network of youth champions among them.”

The program is fully sponsored by Coupang through a public-private partnership with the U.S. Department of State, and the event is co-hosted with Company E, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit.

The application deadline for the event is March 28, and eSports training and in-person eSports tournament matches will take place starting April 5.

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Metro’s Art in Transit Program showcases George �鶹��Ƶ students' work

Colleen Rich — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 19:33:02 +0000

Metro’s Art in Transit Program showcases George �鶹��Ƶ students' work Colleen Rich Wed, 12/04/2024 - 14:33

Four students in �鶹��Ƶ’s College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) will have original animations displayed on screens in six Metro stations as part of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) Art in Transit Program, beginning the first week of December 2024.

These George �鶹��Ƶ student animations will be on rotation in the Metro stations for a full year. Photo by the Art in Transit Program

These animations will be on rotation in the stations for a full year. Additionally, through a new five-year partnership with Metro, CVPA students from the School of Art and Film and Video Studies and Computer Game Design Programs, will have ongoing opportunities to participate in this innovative learning experience.

The process began in fall 2023, when School of Art Professor Gail Scott White, Film and Video Studies Adjunct Rebekah Wingert-Jabi, and Film and Video Studies Program Director Cynthia Fuchs met with Metro’s Art in Transit team to discuss how George �鶹��Ƶ students could participate in the WMATA’s digital art initiative.

“From the very first meeting, I was drawn to the Art in Transit Program’s evolving nexus of art, culture, and community,” said White. “It seemed like the perfect experiential learning opportunity for CVPA students to work through the processes of idea generation and concept development, receive individual mentorship, and to create frame-by-frame animations of their own design that would be publicly displayed, reaching Metro viewers from all walks of life.”

In spring 2024, White reached out to current CVPA students—computer game design major Valeria Hunt and art and visual technology majors Taka Hunter, Joseph Cameron Rhodes Murdock, and Jennifer Perez—about joining a pilot program, in which each would create a 20-second animation to be displayed on screens in the Crystal City, Farragut North, NoMa–Gallaudet U, Gallery Place–Chinatown, L'Enfant Plaza, and Metro Center stations. The students began working in earnest on their projects in the summer and early fall of 2024.

Here the CVPA students talk about their work:

Valeria Hunt, Man with the Suitcase

“My stop-motion cut-out animation, Man with the Suitcase, portrays moments from everyday life that many people can relate to. I used watercolors and ink, scissors and glue, found materials, facial expressions, and physical gestures to visually engage and emotionally connect with the viewer. Inspired by personal experiences and observations of social interactions, this short film encourages viewers to reflect on their own experiences of human nonverbal communications. Man with the Suitcase is about daily struggles, with a touch of humor to help us get through the day.”

Taka Hunter, Ichi Nichi

“Ichi Nichi (One Day) is a short piece made up of day-to-day moments. Animated in Clip Studio Paint, the work features a set of characters inspired by treasured experiences and people in my life. Through my art I aim to appreciate every person’s pursuit of happiness and the inherent beauty of our mundane lives. I hope that viewers can connect with elements of the work in whatever small way. If there’s anything I want to achieve with Ichi Nichi, it’s to make someone feel seen.”

Joseph Cameron Rhodes Murdock, The Magnificent Pixie Titans and the Workshop Varmint

“In this animation, the Wessel, a small creature who loves shiny objects and getting into mischief, breaks into a magic workshop and wreaks havoc. The Magnificent Pixie Titans use their magic to outfox the Wessel and restore order. My greatest joy is to create inhabitants of worlds, not just creatures that look cool but ones that have purpose. I love weird and kooky creatures, from mythology, fantasy, sci-fi, or just reality. Encouraged by my sci-fi loving mother, I grew up reading global folklore and myths. Every creature in those tales had a narrative purpose and a natural place in the worlds they inhabited—just like the Wessel and the Pixie Titans.”

Jennifer Perez, Stardust Playground

“Stardust Playground is a fantastical, loose reimagining of a childhood memory of a family trip to a swimming pool. In this animation, the pool is outer space while the characters are animals. I am played by a penguin. I chose the other three animals—the acrobatic ferret, a high energy dog, and a cat who is cool and calm—for their exquisite movements and behavioral traits. These free-spirited animal characters joyfully play in zero gravity among the stars.”

The Art in Transit Program enhances the experience of customers, communities, and the Capital region by incorporating visual and performing arts experiences into the Metrorail system and Metro facilities. With Metrorail serving nearly half a million commuters every weekday, on average, the talents of these four CVPA students will reach an exponentially increasing number of people in the region while contributing to the program’s enriching mission.

This new partnership with Metro exemplifies the kinds of connections and opportunities uniquely offered to students as part of their educational experience within CVPA. Other examples include the Murals at �鶹��Ƶ program by �鶹��Ƶ Exhibitions, which develops and manages contracts for local artists—often CVPA students and alumni—with public art opportunities in the Washington, D.C., area; the Film and Video Studies Program’s traveling showcase of student films each fall—Best of Film at �鶹��Ƶ—with free public screenings at various locations, including a recurring fall showcase during the Washington West Film Festival; and the Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music’s �鶹��Ƶ Music Productions, which manages opportunities for student musicians to be hired for private and public events. Faculty and staff throughout CVPA actively explore and create hand-on experiences for students, from supporting research and scholarly activities to curating showcases of student work in local galleries and museums and hiring students as members of production teams that travel the world.

The Art in Transit Program’s Digital Art Initiative was launched in 2018 to develop partnerships with local arts organizations and institutions to facilitate the presentation of original digital artworks for Metro's digital displays at the following stations—Crystal City, Farragut North, NoMa-Gallaudet U, Gallery Place-Chinatown, L'Enfant Plaza, and Metro Center.

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How �鶹��Ƶ Computer Game Design Program Prepares Students for Industry Success

Lakin Raybuck — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 12:29:59 +0000

How �鶹��Ƶ Computer Game Design Program Prepares Students for Industry Success Lakin Raybuck Tue, 09/17/2024 - 08:29

At �鶹��Ƶ, the Computer Game Design program offers students more than just an education—it provides a direct pathway into the gaming industry. Emphasizing practical experience and industry connections, the program enthralls students in the game community, preparing them for thriving careers. Key events like the Global Game Jam illustrate this immersive approach, where students like Matthew Neri find unique opportunities to hone their skills and build valuable networks.

A game jam is an event where participants, ranging from novices to seasoned professionals, come together to create video games from scratch within a set timeframe, often a weekend or a few days. These events are centered around a specific theme, which remains undisclosed until the jam begins, challenging participants to think creatively and work collaboratively under time constraints. The goal is not just to produce a finished game but to engage in an intensive, hands-on learning experience that enhances game development skills and fosters a sense of community among developers.

Professor Hahn (left) with participants at the Game Jam event, collaborating on innovative game designs.

This game jam, organized by the International Game Developers Association (IGDA), was the first of its kind hosted at �鶹��Ƶ since 2016. The event attracted a diverse group of participants, including students, industry professionals, and hobbyists, all eager to share their passion for game creation. Professor Nathanial Hahn was instrumental in bringing this event to �鶹��Ƶ, leveraging his industry connections and commitment to student development to provide a unique opportunity for the �鶹��Ƶ community. Through this game jam, students could apply their classroom knowledge in a dynamic, real-world setting, gaining invaluable experience and forging connections that would benefit their future careers.

Neri, who will graduate in Spring 2025, participated in the Global Game Jam at the beginning of the Spring 2024 semester.

"It was great getting to work in a space where everyone had a common goal," Neri said. "The jam not only helped me improve my skills as a game developer but also strengthened my connections within the gaming community." Working alongside friends and peers from the game design program, he experienced firsthand the collaborative spirit and creative intensity that define the game jams at George �鶹��Ƶ.



That inclusive and friendly atmosphere is supported and upheld by student organizations like the Game Analysis Design Interest Group (GADIG), of which Neri has been president for two terms GADIG provides a supportive environment for budding game developers and equips them with tangible portfolio pieces that enhance their career prospects. "The end result of having a game at the end of the semester is such a positive outcome," he explained. "I now have numerous projects I can showcase, demonstrating my involvement in game creation."



Faculty members are crucial in bridging the gap between academic learning and industry demands. Professor Nathanial Hahn, who balances his duties at George �鶹��Ƶ with his role as associated producer at Bethesda Game Studios, brings current industry insights directly into the classroom. His active involvement in the gaming industry ensures that students are learning the most relevant and up-to-date skills. "I try my best to bridge that gap so that students can find jobs in the industry and companies get developers who are productive from day one," he said.



The program's holistic approach sets it apart from others, emphasizing a broad education in game development. Students gain experience in art, programming, music, and writing, fostering a well-rounded understanding of the game creation process. This comprehensive education helps students identify their strengths and teaches them effective communication skills, which are crucial for successful collaboration in the industry.



Events like the Global Game Jam are integral to this holistic approach, allowing students to apply classroom knowledge in real-world scenarios. Game jams provide a platform for students to experiment with new tools and engines, collaborate under time constraints, and develop innovative games that reflect the rapidly evolving landscape of game development. These events are crucial for preparing students to meet the demands of the gaming industry, offering them the chance to test their skills in a dynamic and challenging environment.



Hahn emphasized the importance of these practical experiences. "Participating in game jams helps students apply what they've learned and prepares them for the teamwork and project management skills required in the industry," he said. His advice to students underscores the program's philosophy: engage in as many game jams as possible to gain practical experience and build a robust portfolio.



George �鶹��Ƶ's Computer Game Design program is designed to foster innovation, collaboration and excellence. By integrating practical experiences, expert faculty involvement, and a supportive community, the program prepares students to excel in the competitive gaming industry. Students leave with not only technical skills but also the real-world experiences necessary to navigate and shape the future of game development.



This unique approach to education in the gaming field is tailored to produce skilled professionals and innovators who will continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in gaming. As they transition from the classroom to the global stage, George �鶹��Ƶ students are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and experiences that will help them succeed in the ever-evolving world of game development.

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�鶹��Ƶ Korea celebrates 10 years with kickoff reception

Lauren Reuscher — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 14:20:34 +0000

�鶹��Ƶ Korea celebrates 10 years with kickoff reception Lauren Reuscher Thu, 06/13/2024 - 10:20

�鶹��Ƶ Korea kicked off its 10th anniversary celebrations with a lively reception that brought together �鶹��Ƶ Korea students, faculty, and staff, current and past leaders, visitors from George �鶹��Ƶ's Fairfax Campus, and members of the �鶹��Ƶ Korea advisory board.

�鶹��Ƶ leaders gathered for �鶹��Ƶ Korea's 10th anniversary kickoff celebration. Photo by �鶹��Ƶ Korea

The event included a recognition ceremony for �鶹��Ƶ Korea employees with five to ten years of service. Janette Muir, vice provost for academic affairs and chair of the �鶹��Ƶ Korea LLC Board, presented awards to five-year employees. Robert Matz, dean of �鶹��Ƶ Korea, honored those with six to nine years of service, and �鶹��Ƶ President Gregory Washington recognized faculty and staff with 10 years of service—those who have been at �鶹��Ƶ Korea since it opened.

President Gregory Washington (right) and faculty/staff with 10 years of service at �鶹��Ƶ Korea. Photo by �鶹��Ƶ Korea

President Gregory Washington and faculty/staff with 6–9 years of service at �鶹��Ƶ Korea. Photo by �鶹��Ƶ Korea

President Gregory Washington and faculty/staff with 5 years of service at �鶹��Ƶ Korea. Photo by �鶹��Ƶ Korea

Matz thanked the faculty and staff in attendance for their contributions to the campus. “You do not need to be told of �鶹��Ƶ Korea’s successes because you are the reason for them—you are their engine,” said Matz.

The event featured a first-of-its-kind collaboration between the Green Machine pep band and �鶹��Ƶ Korea's student bands, Crescent and Sketch. The electric energy of the bands filled the banquet hall with a mix of English and Korean pop hits.

Photo by �鶹��Ƶ Korea

Sherlin Amaya Medrano, �鶹��Ƶ Korea Student Government president, also offered her congratulations to the campus community. The 10th anniversary celebration continues throughout the week with a series of public events.

Photo by �鶹��Ƶ Korea

Learn more about �鶹��Ƶ Korea's 10th Anniversary

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Annual �鶹��Ƶ Korea competition brings digital art to the forefront

Colleen Rich — Mon, 10 Jun 2024 18:03:45 +0000

Annual �鶹��Ƶ Korea competition brings digital art to the forefront Colleen Rich Mon, 06/10/2024 - 14:03

In its fourth year, �鶹��Ƶ Korea's Progress@Play Digital Art Competition continues to grow with more than 300 teams from eight countries competing.

The digital art competition aims to raise awareness of social issues and encourage creative solutions through the power of digital media and computer games. Photo provided

Since its inception in 2021, Progress@Play has been a collaborative effort between �鶹��Ƶ Korea and NCSoft, a leading video game developer. The competition aims to raise awareness of social issues and encourage creative solutions through the power of digital media and computer games.

“The fourth Progress@Play Digital Art Competition was a resounding success, thanks to the generous sponsorship of NCSoft,” said Dean Robert Matz. “We are consistently impressed by the passion and creativity displayed by the participating students. We remain committed to supporting students who are actively engaged with global social issues and who use the Progress@Play competition as a platform to develop solutions through digital art.”

This year's competition saw a significant increase in participation with 363 teams from eight countries submitting entries—a quadrupling of entries compared to the previous year. The submissions spanned a wide range of digital art formats, including animations, web comics, computer games, videos, and illustrations. The artwork tackled diverse social issues, from climate change and gender inequality to the Dokdo territorial dispute.

Winners were selected in both the university and middle/high school divisions. Photo provided

Following a rigorous two-stage judging process involving �鶹��Ƶ Korea's computer game design faculty and external experts, winners were selected in both the university and middle/high school divisions.

In the university division, the first prize went to Ye-bin Kim of Pai Chai University for her artwork titled "Put yourself in other people’s shoes." The second prize went to Woojin Cho of Yewon Arts University for his artwork titled "Still tomorrow." The third prize went to �鶹��Ƶ Korea's very own Chaeyeon Lee for her artwork titled "37°131°."

In the middle and high school division, the first prize went to "Rusted" by Seo Yeon Shin from Korea Animation High School, the second prize was awarded to "That Boy" by Minha Kang from Korea Animation High School, and the third prize was given to "Trauma" by Eun Mi Kim from Suwan High School.

"NCSoft is proud to continue sponsoring this meaningful competition, which provides a platform for young artists to explore social issues and propose solutions through digital art," Jae Goon Lee, a representative of NCSoft. “We are constantly inspired by the innovative ideas submitted each year. As a company, we are committed to exploring the positive impact of games, such as digital therapeutics, and will continue to invest in and sponsor initiatives like Progress@Play."

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A second chance at a college degree for this �鶹��Ƶ Korea computer game design graduate

Colleen Rich — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 14:12:29 +0000

A second chance at a college degree for this �鶹��Ƶ Korea computer game design graduate Colleen Rich Wed, 04/17/2024 - 10:12

Juyoung Cha was the first in her family to consider studying abroad for college. Starting in high school, she wanted to experience a different culture, specifically the United States.

Computer game design major Juyoung Cha by �鶹��Ƶ Pond on the Fairfax Campus. Photo provided

After she faced closed doors to her fine arts college applications in Korea, her local pastor who had lived in the United States recommended that she take the community college route in the state of New York. Cha decided to study accounting, a pathway she considered to be more stable than fine arts in terms of career outcomes.

Cha spent three semesters at a community college and three semesters at the City University of New York. However, due to family financial difficulties, Cha and her sister returned home to continue their college education.

Coming back to Korea as a transfer student was a huge challenge for Cha, as Korean universities only accept transfer students who enrolled for more than two years at a single institution. With her six semesters at two institutions, she was limited in options for continuing her undergraduate education.

At the point where she was about to give up on her college education, her pastor’s wife introduced her to Kelley Chung, �鶹��Ƶ Korea’s associate dean for admissions and government affairs, who helped Cha see that she could continue her fine arts pursuits through the field of computer game design at a U.S. institution in Korea.

“While it was not as abstract as plain fine arts and had a clear career route, the thought of building something in the digital world that cannot be constructed in the real world sounded exciting,” Cha said.

Learning computer programming, design, and game modeling was challenging for Cha. “As the days of being a college student prolonged, the goal of graduating felt farther away the more I got close to it,” she said.

Cha found that computer game design faculty members wanted to see her succeed, showing flexibility on deadlines and even offering the chance to retake classes for a better grade. Her internship supervisor at �鶹��Ƶ Korea’s Office of Development and Strategic Partnerships, Christina Cha, was her biggest supporter when she was on the brink of dropping out of college.

“Juyoung’s diligence and willingness to learn new skills was impressive to me and to all of us in the office,” her internship supervisor said. “She was also an active member of G-nonymous, �鶹��Ƶ Korea’s student RSO for [computer graphic design] majors, quietly yet persistently honing her skills. I’m so happy that she rose above her own doubts and decided to complete her education journey at �鶹��Ƶ and become our alumnus!”

Now Cha is just weeks away from reaching the finish line in Fairfax—earning her BFA in computer game design. In May she plans to walk proudly across the graduation stage in EagleBank Arena along with her younger sister, Subin Cha, who is a �鶹��Ƶ Korea student in accounting.

“Being the first five students among �鶹��Ƶ Korea’s first computer game design cohort and one of the few female students in my major’s graduating class from �鶹��Ƶ Korea, to me being a Patriot symbolizes endurance and patience,” said Cha. “Studying abroad in the United States and coming back to an American college through �鶹��Ƶ were both non-traditional routes that exposed me to different challenges that allowed me to see the value of a college degree.”

�鶹��Ƶ Korea opened its doors to in 2014. As part of �鶹��Ƶ Korea’s 10th anniversary, �鶹��Ƶ will host events in Korea and on the Fairfax Campus. This is the first in a series of stories highlighting �鶹��Ƶ Korea students.

Learn more about �鶹��Ƶ Korea's anniversary >>

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ARTS by George! 2023 Raises More than $275,000 to Support �鶹��Ƶ Arts

Zoe Harr — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 14:25:00 +0000

ARTS by George! 2023 Raises More than $275,000 to Support �鶹��Ƶ Arts Zoe Harr Tue, 10/10/2023 - 10:25

CVPA Dean Rick Davis holds Fund-A-Student auction prior to the evening's concert. Credit: Risdon Photography.

ARTS by George! returned on Saturday, September 30, 2023, hosted by the College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) at �鶹��Ƶ. The benefit event, which was headlined by GRAMMY and Tony Award winner Renée Elise Goldsberry, raised more than $275,000 for student scholarships in visual arts, dance, music, theater, game design, film, arts management, as well as for the �鶹��Ƶ Community Arts Academy, Green Machine Ensembles, and the Great Performances at �鶹��Ƶ season at the Center for the Arts. With donations still coming in, ARTS by George! has raised more than $4.1 million for the arts at �鶹��Ƶ since the event began in 2006.

The event gave students and faculty from each discipline an opportunity to present behind-the-scenes showcases, film screenings, performances, and interactive experiences. Programming was held in eight open studios, venues, and rehearsal halls across �鶹��Ƶ’s Fairfax campus, with beverage and cuisine stations offered throughout.

“ARTS by George! 2023 is in the books, and one for the books,” remarks CVPA Dean Rick Davis. “Thanks to a considerable village, this edition was quite possibly the most uplifting, free-flowing, artistically engaging version of this storied tradition. A hearty thanks to all the students, faculty, staff, and volunteers who made it work better than ever, and to Renée Elise Goldsberry for a generous, inspiring concert and toast, and to our patrons, donors, sponsors, and supporters of all kinds for whom we do the work.”

During the evening’s showcases, guests flowed in and out of three buildings on the Fairfax Campus: deLaski Performing Arts Building, Harris Theatre, and Horizon Hall. Inside deLaski, students from the Dewberry School of Music dazzled the crowd with the powerful voices of �鶹��Ƶ Opera students or the impressive instrumental skills ranging from piano to wind symphony. The Dewberry School of Music didn’t stop the beat all night, with talented instrumental and vocal musicians presenting piano, jazz, and opera selections during the nearly two hours of student showcases.

�鶹��Ƶ Community Arts Academy perform selections from Newsies. Credit: Risdon Photography.

Just down the hall, students from the �鶹��Ƶ Community Arts Academy presented previews of their work and in a separate room, Film at �鶹��Ƶ played selections on an array of television screens, inviting patrons to see what students had created in the program. In another wing of deLaski, emerging professionals of the �鶹��Ƶ School of Dance performed to packed houses. With both intimate dance performances, as well as the �鶹��Ƶ School of Dance’s collaboration with the Dewberry School of Music in their revival of “Come Sunday,” rooms were frequently filled shoulder to shoulder with enthusiastic audience members.

As guests made their way out of deLaski across the Johnson Center Plaza, they were enticed into Harris Theater by the sounds of �鶹��Ƶ School of Theater students. Alternating their time on the Harris stage, students astonished the crowd with songs from their upcoming production of 9 to 5 The Musical as well as a student-written one-act play by Dyllan Hutchinson entitled “So, Two Spies Walk Into a Restaurant,” which premiered earlier in The Originals! this September. More music flowed from the amphitheater space between Harris and Horizon Hall, where Green Machine’sFife and Drum ensemble as well as Green & Gold Soul, joined by dance group Emerald Desire, kept energies high as guests ambled along the walkway into Horizon Hall.

�鶹��Ƶ School of Theater students (left to right) Kamy Satterfield, Sarah Stewart, Emma Harris, Lexi Carter, Aiden Breneman-Pennas, and Brett Womack join Renée Elise Goldsberry on stage during the evening's concert. Credit: Risdon Photography.

Inside Horizon Hall, �鶹��Ƶ’s Computer Game Design program and Virginia Serious Game Institute created mini studios inside the �鶹��Ƶ Innovation Exchange (MIX), where guests explored a change of scenery with actual reality and virtual reality headsets. Also in the MIX, the School of Art and �鶹��Ƶ Exhibitions gave guests a chance to play with printing, personalizing a postcard they could take with them as a memento of their experience, while elsewhere in the space, �鶹��Ƶ Computer Game Design and �鶹��Ƶ Exhibitions invited visitors to play selections from the 2023 Progress@Play Competition and Master of Art in Teaching students demonstrated 3D printing. In addition to the buffet within Horizon, �鶹��Ƶ Exhibition’s Metamorphosis, an exhibition created by �鶹��Ƶ faculty, decorated the space and a Dewberry School of Music student played guitar in the seating area to round out the spectacular mood in the space.

Dewberry School of Music alumni flutist Eduardo Fajardo. Credit: Risdon Photography.

After the showcases, guests transitioned to the Center for the Arts for a live Fund-A-Student Raise the Paddle event, which brought in more than $36,000 towards the total raised, prior to the performance by Renée Elise Goldsberry. Guests and concert-goers were also treated to Dewberry School of Music piano student Kai Shi and School of Music alumni flutist Eduardo Fajardo in a performance paired with personal anecdotes about the importance of student scholarships.

Capping off the evening, Renée Elise Goldsberry performed a concert culminating in multiple standing ovations, an explosive encore, and multiple sing-along moments from Hamilton fans in the exhilarated audience. Interspersed with personal anecdotes, Goldsberry emphasized the importance of student scholarships and love for young artists, noting that she started as one herself. For her final number of the evening, Goldsberry invited �鶹��Ƶ School of Theater students Kamy Satterfield, Sarah Stewart, Emma Harris, Lexi Carter, Aiden Breneman-Pennas, and Brett Womack to join her on stage in a medley from the musical Rent. With tears and shining smiles, the students bowed with Goldsberry stepping back to gesture to the students with a proud expression on her face.

Renée Elise Goldsberry and Rick Davis lead a champagne toast on stage. Credit: Risdon Photography.

After the show, Goldsberry and Davis ended the night with a champagne toast on stage for donors, students, and George �鶹��Ƶ faculty. Goldsberry reimagined Hamilton’s “Satisfied,” singing, “A toast to ARTS by George! and �鶹��Ƶ. To the donors and the teachers who are always by your side. To the students and the hope that you provide, may you always be satisfied!"

See more images from the event by visiting a gallery of images.

ARTS by George! has raised more than $4.1 million since it began in 2006, with net proceeds going toward student scholarships and community arts programs.

It’s not too late to contribute! Make a difference in the lives of �鶹��Ƶ Arts students, staff, faculty, community arts partners, as well as arts lovers of all ages in the region. For more information, please visit the CVPA website.

View Images from ARTS by George! 2023

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�鶹��Ƶ brought its A-Game at this year’s Game �鶹��Ƶ

Shayla Brown — Mon, 20 Mar 2023 21:13:54 +0000

�鶹��Ƶ brought its A-Game at this year’s Game �鶹��Ƶ Shayla Brown Mon, 03/20/2023 - 17:13

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Sang Nam

Participants playing a video game at GAMEmason 2023. Photo by Evan Cantwell.

Game �鶹��Ƶ showed why �鶹��Ƶ’s Computer Game Design program is one of the university’s fastest growing programs.

Hosted by Student Involvement and the Center for the Arts (CFA), in collaboration with GMU Esports and the computer game design program, this year’s event at the Fairfax Campus on March 3-4 had classic arcade games like Pinball and Ms. Pac-Man, an Esports tournament, and more. Just under 1,000 people attended the event, with its components in Harris Theater, Horizon Hall, and the Center for the Arts Concert Hall.

“Throughout Game �鶹��Ƶ, we witnessed that games can be a cohesive agent to bring the community closer together,” said Sang Nam, director of �鶹��Ƶ's Computer Game Design Program. “Games in the 21st century are an essential part of our life and beyond, and �鶹��Ƶ will be a frontrunner to innovate how we experience games.”

Game �鶹��Ƶ invited special guests such as voice actors and guest speakers from across the gaming industry including Michele King, director of the Esports Program at the College of William & Mary.

“The language of play is universal. I'm an old school gamer with the original board games,” said King.

King, who enjoys playing games such as Codenames, Splendor, and Rummikub, described Game �鶹��Ƶ as “an organic grassroots community of gamers.”

“I did a TED Talk three years ago [about why] colleges and universities need to pay attention to this concept of esports,” said King. “There is plenty of room at the esports table for everybody to have a seat [to] support and encourage each other.”

Although it is typically a male-dominated field, “esports is one of the beautiful places of leveling the playing field. I think it's starting to change,” said King.

Between all five games we offered in varsity level competitions, there were about 130 players, said Lauren Long, the executive director of Student Involvement.

“It brought players from [universities such as] Virginia Tech, Northern Virginia Community College, James Madison University, Shenandoah University, Virginia Wesleyan, and American University,” said Long.

Participants playing a game at GAMEmason 2023. Photo by Evan Cantwell.

�鶹��Ƶ Computer Game Design students also presented demonstrations of their game creations for participants to play.

Stellar Stoats, a student-formed company, presented their game, Eras Rising, which was initially developed as a group project for their Senior Capstone course, a year-long synthesis course where student groups develop a full game from ideation to launch.

Senior computer game design major Tione Giesberts presented his creation, GMU Jammers, which he designed with his peers in their Advanced Game Design Studio course.

“We came together and made a game over a semester. It's truly one of the best experiences I've had in the major,” said Giesberts. As the design leader, Giesberts said one responsibility was figuring out what the team’s strengths and weaknesses were.

Senior creative writing major Rheagan Nelson has been a gamer for most of her life. She said her love of gaming started when she was five years old and her family bought a Nintendo Wii.

“It's fun to just game out, especially when they have the Super Smash and Mario Cart tournaments,” said Nelson, who also attended last year’s event. “It's important that the types of games are expanding too. Last year it was all rhythm and dancing type games. It's good to see them branching out to different sorts of games,” she said.

Nelson is taking a screenplay class this semester and hopes to join a publishing company after graduation. “It would be pretty cool to be able to write scripts for game.”

This is �鶹��Ƶ’s fourth Game �鶹��Ƶ since the event began in 2019.

“It's a gathering of gaming for those who, like myself, are home bodies and usually inside,” said Jonathon Golden, a Fairfax resident and Game �鶹��Ƶ participant. “It's a perfect opportunity for people who don't get the chance that often to hang out with others with shared interest.”

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ARTS by George! Showcases the Arts at �鶹��Ƶ and Raises Scholarship Funds

Zoe Harr — Tue, 06 Sep 2022 17:06:54 +0000

ARTS by George! Showcases the Arts at �鶹��Ƶ and Raises Scholarship Funds Zoe Harr Tue, 09/06/2022 - 13:06

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Rick Davis

“An evening like no other,” ARTS by George! makes its in-person return on September 24. The philanthropic event, headlined by Emmy^® and Tony Award winner Kristin Chenoweth, raises support for student scholarships in visual arts, dance, music, theater, game design, film, arts management, as well as for the �鶹��Ƶ Community Arts Academy, Green Machine Ensembles, and the Great Performance at �鶹��Ƶ season at the Center for the Arts. Since its creation in 2006, ARTS by George! has raised more than $2 million for the arts at �鶹��Ƶ.

“More than any single performance or exhibition or screening could ever do, ARTS by George! offers a window into the life and work – the very heart – of this great College of Visual and Performing Arts,” notes Rick Davis, Dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA). “In fact, it’s kind of a stained-glass window, composed of many colors and shapes and designs representing the many programs we offer, and it casts a beautiful light on the interplay of students, faculty, professional guest artists, and the communities that we all serve.”

School of Music students perform at a previous ARTS by George! event.

ARTS by George! begins by bringing hundreds of CVPA students and faculty together to collaborate in a series of behind-the-scenes showcase performances and exhibits, ranging from musical cabarets to virtual reality demos. From the School of Music, a taste from the many offerings including jazz, piano, symphony orchestra, opera, as well as special performances by The Green Machine. Introducing its upcoming production of the laugh-out-loud love story Head Over Heels, �鶹��Ƶ School of Theater will perform highlights from the musical featuring music of the Go-Go’s and more! Additionally, guests will be invited to performances from the School of Dance, student film screenings from the School of Film, and Computer Game Design demonstrations. Programming begins at 5 p.m., presented across 10 open studios and rehearsal halls on �鶹��Ƶ’s Fairfax campus, which will also have sumptuous beverage and cuisine stations offered throughout.

Co-chairs of ARTS by George! Anne Bolger and Steven Golsch emphasize the importance of the event, stating, “This benefit raises important scholarship funds to help our talented students and community arts partners and share their art and inspire the world. We are proud to support these programs and students as they fulfill their lifelong dreams.”

Kristin Chenoweth headlines the event on September 24.

After the thrilling showcase festivities, guests will transition to the Center for the Arts for a Live Fund-A-Student Auction, leading up to the performance by Kristin Chenoweth. In this 8:30 p.m. concert, Chenoweth will sing music from her album For The Girls, a heartfelt tribute to the great female singers throughout history. The album includes Chenoweth’s personally charged interpretations of classic songs identified with such iconic artists as Barbra Streisand, Lesley Gore, Linda Ronstadt, Dinah Washington, Dolly Parton, and more. To learn more about Kristin Chenoweth, please visit her website. The evening culminates with a special champagne toast onstage with ARTS by George! ticketholders and Ms. Chenoweth.

This year, the winner of the Arts by George! 2023 scholarship is Film and Video Studies student, Tiffany Vu. Past recipients include Erblin Nushi (Film and Video Studies, 2018), Mariah Rogers (The Green Machine, 2020), and Alana Lyons (�鶹��Ƶ School of Theater, 2021). Student scholarships allow for the College of Visual and Performing Arts’ (CVPA) students to explore creative projects while cultivating �鶹��Ƶ’s enriching arts education and first-class performances.

Rick Davis encapsulates �鶹��Ƶ and its community’s excitement, stating, “We’re delighted to be back to our full expression of CVPA’s contribution to the dynamo that is �鶹��Ƶ.”

To learn more about Arts by George!, visit the website.