A Grand Valley State University film and video student has won a $1,500 scholarship in an international competition promoting World Peace through animation.
Kari Smith, a Grand Valley senior from Stockbridge, Mich., is the winner of the 12th International Helen Victoria Haynes World Peace Storyboard and Animation Scholarship Competition, based in Chicago.
Her entry, "The Message," won based on a storyboard presentation. She received $500 to produce an animation based on her entry. A trophy plaque for Grand Valley and $1,000 will be awarded Smith upon completion of her animation within the next year. It will be screened as part of the Kalamazoo Animation Festival International awards ceremony in 2008. Her award will be announced at this year's KAFI awards screening on Sunday, May 20, at 4:30 p.m. at the State Theatre in Kalamazoo.
"Kari is one of the best animation students I've ever had," said Deanna Morse, a professor of animation and film at Grand Valley. "She's also quite humble and so sweet that the other students were rooting for her."
Smith said the most challenging part of the storyboard project was thinking up an idea. "The animation is about a little girl who sends messages of peace around the world by tying notes to balloons and setting them free," said Smith. "I had several abstract ideas, but in the end went with the one where peace is literally spread around."
Smith notes the encouragement she received. "I'm honored to have won this scholarship and owe thanks to Deanna Morse," said Smith. "I am certain I never would have gone through the application process if she hadn't been so encouraging."
The competition is open to all undergraduate animation students. Smith's work was selected from four finalists. The HVH World Peace competition was started by Mary Lou Haynes in Chicago with a small inheritance she received when her mother passed away. According to the website www.hvh-worldpeace.org, she chose to invest the funds in a way that would honor her mother by doing something useful and fun. Additional sponsors include Goi Peace foundation, ASIFA Central and Creative Media Wizards.
