Press & Events
Tino Pacheco-Johnson
Tino Pacheco-Johnson, 16, lives near Widefield, Colorado, and is currently being home schooled. Tino’s interest in art and grafitti led him to develop a documentary film project about how our culture defines, demonizes, and in rare cases, celebrates graffiti art. As part of his film, Tino visited several street muralists in … Read more »
Sandy Schwertfeger
Sandy Schwertfeger, 16, is a junior at CIVA Charter High School in Colorado Springs. Sandy loves CIVA because of its emphasis on non-bullying, celebration of diversity, and its emphasis on arts education. Raised in a Mormon household, Sandy enjoys long-boarding on her skateboard and the music of Bob Marley. Her film project … Read more »
Garry Moyer
Garry Moyer, 18, recently graduated from CIVA High School, an arts charter academy in Colorado Springs where he already had extensive experience in digital arts. At CIVA, Garry enjoyed the small teacher/student ratio and even began teaching as an assistant in video classes. One of Garry’s passion is the environment. His … Read more »
William J. Sobolik
William J. Sobolik, 18, recently graduated from CIVA Arts Academy where he began cultivating his interest in filmmaking and digital arts. Will’s experience as a filmmaker, especially cinematography, began early on: his mom was a videographer for local television. Will’s interest in filmmaking is also matched by his passion for music, … Read more »
Bailey Francisco
Bailey Francisco, 22, grew up on an Army base in Fountain, Colorado. He graduated from Fountain-Ft. Carson High School, and did some time at CSU Fort Collins. Bailey was apart of YDA’s first ever summer session. His film “AFTER WAR” followed his families experiences with PTSD. When asked why he … Read more »
Malia Romero
Malia Romero, 15, currently attends Sand Creek High School in the Falcon School District of Colorado Springs where she is a junior. For her film project, HELPLESS, Malia courageously explored the topic of schizophrenia and how her step-brother’s recent diagnosis has impacted their entire family. Her willingness to delve deeply into … Read more »
Destiny Rinder
Destiny Rinder, 18, knew from an early age she wanted to spend her life pursuing filmmaking. Born in California, raised in Germany, her family ultimately moved to Fountain, Colorado, where she graduated from Mesa Ridge High School last spring. For her YDA project, Destiny directed ONE IN SIX, a daring documentary … Read more »
Amadea Katz
Amadea Katz, 14, is the youngest student to receive a YDA fellowship in 2014. The daughter of two writers, Amadea has always found solace in the arts: through poetry, drawing, violin, acting, and now filmmaking. A sophomore at Coronado High School, Amadea is a strong ally with the LGBT community. She … Read more »
Andre Zimmermann
Andre Zimmermann, 17, was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and emigrated to the U.S. with his mother and sister when we was a young boy. Currently a senior at Palmer High School, Andre’s interests and skills in digital film editing began two years ago when he excelled in a media arts … Read more »
Sarah Patterson
Sarah Patterson, 17, is a senior at Palmer High School. In her YDA application, Sarah wrote about dual passions she has to diminish bullying in schools and protect wolves in the wild. For her YDA documentary project Sarah explored her own family’s longstanding business started by her grandfather, an artist and sculptor, … Read more »
While walking around Boulder, so many people came up to me and my dad to thank me for making AFTER WAR.
Bailey Francisco, 17
