Ringling College of Art and Design students earned top placements at this year’s Rookie of the Year Awards, standing out for their skill and creativity on a global stage. Students worldwide compete for the prestigious honor, which recognizes rising creative digital artists in 12 categories, from Immersive Media to Digital Fashion and 3D Animation. Thanks to their drive, talent, and hard work, Ringling College students consistently stand out on this list year after year—and this year was no exception.
This year, recent Game Art grad Jolyn Hu took home the Rookie of the Year award in Game Development.
Hu shared, “2025 has been a year of both hustle and growth. I finally had the chance to shift my focus from simply finishing scenes to refining the overall atmosphere and details.”
Game Art also took home 10 Finalists and six Draft Selections.
Current and recently graduated Motion Design students claimed three out of seven awards in the category for Motion Graphics. Diane Lee ’25 received Runner Up; Ky Park ’25 won the People’s Choice award; and Lucia Alonso earned a Highly Commended recognition. The major claimed eight Finalists and seven Draft Selections.
Virtual Reality Development grad and former XR Women Student Chapter president Jenna Watts secured a Highly Commended spot. VR also claimed three Finalists and a Draft Selection.
Graphic Design had five Finalists and a Draft Selection. Computer Animation had a Finalist and four Draft Selections. Illustration grabbed four Draft Selections.
Read more about the winners and see their award-winning work on The Rookies website.
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