Leading creative minds honoured with awards at global creative competition The Rookies

Students from Billy Blue Design School at Torrens University Australia; Shillington College Melbourne, Media Design School New Zealand; Victoria University Wellington and ACG Yoobee School of Design Wellington have won numerous awards recognising their outstanding contribution to the creative industries at The Rookies – a global competition for young designers, creators, innovators and artists.

Recognising the outstanding talent emerging from higher education institutions around the world, The Rookies International Awards was devised by visual effects industry professionals Andrew McDonald and Alwyn Hunt to showcase the achievement of young creatives, and to help them launch their careers.

The honour roll includes students from both Australia and New Zealand:

•    Motion Graphics Rookie of the Year – Runner Up:

Julz Lane, studying a Bachelor of Digital Media at Billy Blue College of Design at Torrens University Australia

•    Film Production Rookie of the Year – Runner Up:

Jessica Hill, studying Master of Fine Arts (Creative Practice) in Film at Victoria University, Wellington, New Zealand

•    Graphic Design Rookie of the Year – Winner:

Maria Fernanda Rodriguez, studying graphic design at Shillington College, Melbourne, Australia

•    Rising Sun Pictures in conjunction with University of South Australia scholarship:

Abigail Nath, studying Bachelor of Art & Design at Media Design School, New Zealand

•    Visual Effects – WETA Digital Winner (Oceania) internship:

Tristan Lewis, Bachelor of Art and Design graduate from Media Design School, New Zealand

•    Visual Effects – WETA Digital Winner (Oceania) internship:

Hening Wang, ACG Yoobee School of Design, Wellington, New Zealand

•    Visual Effects – Film of the Year – Runner Up:

Accidents, Blunders and Calamities, Media Design School, New Zealand, 3D Animation & VFX

•    Web & Mobile Game of the Year – Runner Up:

Falafel & Finrod, Billy Blue College of Design, Bachelor of Digital Media students

Other students from Australia who were awarded include Maris Fernanda Rodriguez from Shillington College

Says Professor Justin Beilby, vice chancellor, Torrens University Australia: “We’re incredibly proud of the accolades awarded to students from both Billy Blue College of Design and Media Design School, New Zealand, who have worked tirelessly to showcase their creativity, ingenuity and hands-on expertise across a range of digital and design fields to an expert judging panel – and they have been recognised not only for their technical expertise, but for their presentation skills and industry employability too.

“Achieving recognition at The Rookies this year will undoubtedly offer these students a huge boost in their pursuit of post-graduate careers in the growing digital and design industries.”

View the full list of winners and finalists here.