Two sets of Bert Church students won gold in this year’s Skills Alberta competition in May. One team went on to win first place in Skills Canada.
Mitch Hutchinson and Joel Hineman won gold in the Skills Canada competition for their 2D animation “Are We There Yet?”
Hutchinson and Hineman had 13 hours to create a story, design characters, draw the cartoon, add audio and compile the work.
“It is an incredible amount of work in such a short period of time,” said visual arts teacher Brent Parish,
“Anyone could have won this because of the quality these kids were producing and we jumped for joy when we heard the boys’ names called.”
Nick Cupelli and Chris Reid won gold in the video production division for their promotional documentary in the Skills Alberta competition.
Reid said the boys couldn’t have done it without the help of their dedicated teacher.
“He gives us all the resources we need and puts in the time to help us,” he said. “He really cares a lot.”
“This was the most difficult year that we have participated in,” said Parish. “The talent level was higher than I have ever seen.”
The students had 12 hours to script, plan, film and edit their five-minute promotional video.
“The pressure is really intense and it is really tough,” said Cupelli, who plans to go to Vancouver Film School after he graduates.
Trustee Helen Clease was a professional video producer before becoming a trustee and she commended the kids for their hard work.
“There is a lot more behind the scenes than people realize,” she said.
Parish said although the challenge was difficult, the students pulled it off.
“The kids wanted to make the effort and create high level projects and that’s what they did,” he said.
Out of the six video production competitions that Bert Church has taken part in, students have brought home four gold medals.
Out of the three 2D animation competitions, Bert Church brought home all three first place prizes.
The students won a $500 scholarship for placing first in the Skills Alberta competition and an additional $500 scholarship for winning gold in Skills Canada.
Skills Canada is a national, not-for-profit organization that promotes career skilled trades and technology in youth. It is the only national Olympic-style, multi-trade and technology competition for young students and apprentices in the country.
“The competition provides an opportunity for young Canadians studying a skilled trade or technology to be tested against standards and against their peers across the nations,” said Superintendent of Schools Greg Bass.
