Electronic Arts announced it will continue its strong support of the Masters of Digital Media Program by providing $60,000 in entrance scholarships to three extraordinary MDM applicants applying to the September 2008 session. The scholarships, each worth $20,000, will be accompanied by a much sought after internship at one of EA’s global studios.

The first round of admission offers have been made to prospective students, with the final deadline for applicants now June 30, 2008. All applicants will be considered for the scholarship.

MDM News Link

An extremely busy second semester has come to an end. Since January, student teams have been working on industry-funded projects complete with real-life deadlines and deliverables. Students worked on multi-player online game development; the creation of next-generation digital social networks; a 3D graphical visualization of a sustainable ocean ecosystem; and a 3D virtual ride on the Canada Line – the expanded rapid transit system which will be in place for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics. Clients have been so impressed by the final presentations a number of internships were created so that the students could participate in the development of the next phase of the product.

The Centre for Digital Media will be a quieter place for the next four months as students begin their paid internship. MDM students are a hot commodity. Locally, they have secured internships with the likes of EA, Radical, Relic, InTransit BC, Threewave Software, Mobile MUSE, and the UBC Fisheries Centre. Internationally, students have secured internships in Singapore and Spain.

For more information contact Dennis Chenard, Industry Liaison Manager at Dennis_Chenard@gnwc.ca.

"Crossing" - an online film produced by a team of MDM students - has been selected as an Official Honoree in the 12th Annual Webby Awards. Called the "Oscars of the Internet" by the New York Times, the Webby Awards are the leading international award honoring excellence on the Internet. The Official Honoree distinction is awarded to work that scores in the top 15% of all work entered into the Webby Awards. With nearly 10,000 entries received from more than 60 countries, this is an outstanding accomplishment for this first time submission from the MDM Program and the "Crossing" team.

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Watch "Crossing" (YouTube)

The "Tomorrow’s Masters of Digital Media Program" (TMDM) is a new summer camp for teens offered by the Masters of Digital Media Program with support from Electronic Arts. Teens with artistic and/or technical interests entering Grades 10 or 11 will have the opportunity to learn how to use digital media platforms to tell their story. This intensive and creative program will be based on realistic work situations - plus, it will be a whole lot of fun.

The TMDM runs daily from July 7th - 25th, 2008 with spaces for 20 students. Application deadline is May 31st, 2008. Students interested in applying can do so at mdm.gnwc.ca/bootcamp.

Launched in September 2007, the Masters of Digital Media (MDM) Program is an innovative, full-time professional master’s degree offering students team-based experiences focused on project learning in close collaboration with the international digital media industry. Housed in the Centre for Digital Media at Great Northern Way Campus, the MDM is a 20-month program and includes a paid summer internship. The MDM graduate degree is granted by all four GNWC partner institutions.

Great Northern Way Campus (GNWC), in Vancouver, BC , is a unique, collaborative university environment that combines the strengths of four leading academic institutions: University of British Columbia; Simon Fraser University; Emily Carr Institute of Art + Design and the British Columbia Institute of Technology.

An urban campus, GNWC has the mandate to intersect arts, technology and the environment in a manner that bridges academia with industry, artists with technology, and innovation with development. It is an integrative environment that builds community and celebrates innovation.