Student Awards
Creative Good Fund
Nonprofits like museums, zoos, and educational programs are built around the mission of enriching lives and communities—and technology can play a big role in helping them do that. But staying current with creative tech is often out of reach for these organizations due to cost. At the same time, ETC students are gaining valuable skills in designing transformational games and interactive experiences, but aren’t always able to offer that work to nonprofits without financial support.
Founded in 2013 through a generous donation from Afzaal Akhtar (ENG 1984, 1986) and Sarah Bhutta (MCS 1988) in memory of Afzaal’s mother, Shaheen Akhtar, the Creative Good Fund connects students with nonprofits and funds them to work with these organizations over the summer.
2023
Thomas Youn, Games for Change
Anton (Anthony) Renouf, Mt. Sinai
2022
Matt Cameron, Games for Change
Tsai-Yen (Cleo) Ko, Give Kids The World
2021
Jack McClain, Games for Change
Xinxiu Zhong, How Well
Yuzhu Zhou, Big Emotion
2020
Amelia Li, Alice
Xin (Simon) He, Alice
Huixin Luo, Long bodied Mouse
Beck Wolfinger, Long-bodied Mouse
2019
Daryl Choa, Two Bits Circus Foundation
2018
Dustin Stephan, Give Kids the World
2017
Jacob Rosenbloom, Not Impossible Labs
Vaishnavi Yathirajam, JPL
2016
Elaine Fath, Articulab
Dasol Park, Poverty Spiral
2014
Ruokan He, Give Kids the World
Vivek Kotecha, Give Kids the World
Student Recognition Awards
Each year at the diploma ceremony, three members of the graduating class are recognized for their impact on their class, leadership skills, and initiative. Chosen by the ETC faculty and staff, the students only learn they’ve received the award during the diploma ceremony. The awardees' names also go on plaques hung throughout the ETC: a way to represent the mark they made here.
The Anne Humphreys Memorial Award honors the memory of ETC faculty member Anne Humphreys, who passed away in 2008 after a courageous battle with cancer. Anne possessed an indomitable spirit, and was an inspiration to all that knew her. The award is given to a student who has made the most out of life by living with passion, living in the moment, and living with a goal of bettering the lives of others.
Previous Awardees
- 2024: Jessica Cromp
- 2023: Maria Laura Mirabelli
- 2022: Lauren Zhang
The Tornado Award recognizes a student who challenges the status quo by pushing the limits of the entertainment technology industry as we know it, creating an impact that stands the test of time.
Previous awardees
- 2024: Angie Mendenhall
- 2023: Faris ElRayes
- 2022: Sophia Videva
The Randy Pausch Award is both inspired by and given in honor of late ETC co-founder Randy Pausch. The award is given to a student who epitomizes interdisciplinary leadership in the artistic, technical, and interpersonal realms, much like Randy did.
Previous awardees
- 2024: Sy Suo
- 2023: Shan Jiang
- 2022: Yuji Sato
