Brenda Sepanek, a student enrolled in the Interactive Media Certificate Program at San Diego Community College District’s New Media Center, received a Second Place award in a national competition for artists who use computers instead of traditional media to express their creativity. Sepanek's entry featured multiple images of the human eye to illustrate the theme, "the truth is in the eye of the beholder."

The Viewpoint Digital Artist Award competition is designed to further what it calls the "digitalism" movement. Sepanek received a $2,000 prize, various computer graphics software applications and a two-year subscription to a stock photography web site. More information about the contest is available at www.digitalismtour.com.

Carolyn O'Barr, an instructor with the Interactive Media Certificate Program, says, "We're so proud of Brenda. She really tied together a lot of the diverse skills and techniques we cover in our program." The nine-month job training program covers the major software and team-building skills a person would need to work as a digital media web designer/artist, and immerses students in an exploration of graphic design, desktop publishing, web site development, video, animation and sound. The program uses a portfolio-based training system, so students emerge with showcase quality work to demonstrate to potential employers. The Interactive Media Certificate Program is offered by the Centers for Education and Technology, the non-credit college within the San Diego Community College District. More information is available at www.ncc.sdccd.net