Now in its 13th year, the Rookies Awards are an annual competition hosted by the Rookies community, founded in 2010. They offer an online platform for non-professional digital artists to share their work and help launch their professional careers in the fields of film, games, animation, immersive media, archviz, motion graphics, product design, and other creative industries.

The Rookie of the Year competition is an international contest for creative projects sponsored by Adobe, Autodesk, Dell, EA SPorts, Epic Games, outpost VFX, and wetafx, among others. This year there were 5517 entries from 535 schools in 106 countries. Twenty-five Ringling students were selected as finalists in 10 categories including 3D animation, Motion Graphics, Immersive Media, and Console and PC, making up 40 total selections.

The winners were announced on July 28, 2023 with Ringling Computer Animation, Motion Design, and Virtual Reality Development students winning in several categories. Here are the results:

Rookie of the Year: 3D Animation 

• Highly Commended, Donghoe Kim ’23, Computer Animation, Octopus Ninja 
• Highly Commended, Chloe Merwin ’23, Computer Animation, Bent Out of Shape 
• People’s Choice, Monica Lagrange ’24, Computer Animation, 3D Animation-Junior Portfolio 

Ringling’s Computer Animation program has been ranked #1 in the world by The Rookies. 

Rookie of the Year: Motion Graphics

• WINNER, Josh Young ’23, Motion Design, Motion Graphics Portfolio 
• Runner Up, Steven Dvornik ’23, Motion Design, Motion Graphics Portfolio 

This is the third time Ringling Motion Design students have won the international title of “Rookie of the Year,” but the first time that a Ringling student has taken both first and second place in the category. Ringling’s Department of Motion Design has been ranked #1 in the U.S. and #2 in the world by The Rookies! 

Film of the Year: 3D Animation 

• Highly Commended, Donghoe Kim ’23, Computer Animation, Octopus Ninja 

Career Opportunity: ON Animation Studio

• WINNER, Julian Miranda ’23, Computer Animation, Small Fry 

Career Opportunity: realworld one

• WINNER, Tianran (Troy) Xia ’23, Virtual Reality Development, Windmill (an interactive VR animation)

With only two graduating Virtual Reality Development classes to date, this is already the fourth year Ringling students have won an award for VR projects submitted to The Rookies.

Learn more about The Rookies and check out all of the awards results here.