Sigma Scholarship Contest
By Press Release

June 9, 2010 — Jamie Russell’s gritty black-and-white images of a bleak city landscape helped her beat out 121 other candidates to win the first-ever Sigma Corporation of America Scholarship Contest.

The 17-year-old high school senior from Cheektowaga, N.Y., a suburb of Buffalo, was announced today by Sigma Corporation of America executives as the winner of the scholarship contest prize, which includes ,000 in cash and a ,000 credit toward Sigma products. To view Russell’s photos and essay, visit http://scholarship.sigmaphoto.com/winner.asp.

Mark Amir-Hamzeh, general manager of Sigma Corporation of America, praised Russell’s ability as an up-and-coming photographer and noted that image quality was the most important factor in the selection of the contest’s winner. The students’ essays also played a large factor in the selection of the winner, as Sigma executives were looking for a compelling story to tie the photos together in a common theme, Amir-Hamzeh noted.

“Jamie showed us some stunning images of poverty and demonstrated an impressive sense of image detail and composition. Ultimately, this contest was about recognizing the student who best captured photos consistent with the superior caliber of image quality for which the Sigma brand has become known. We will watch Jamie’s photography career blossom with much interest,” said Amir-Hamzeh.

Amir-Hamzeh added that Sigma Corporation of America is committed to nurturing and empowering aspiring young photographers like Russell to gain more knowledge and skills and pursue photography at all levels, from serious amateur to professional.

Russell said she has a passion for photography and a budding interest in photojournalism – telling a persuasive and compelling story through images. She would like her career to focus on raising awareness about poverty.

“During my time in college, I plan to not only excel in the photography program, but to gain a vast amount of knowledge about other cultures. I believe that if everyone has a general understanding of cultures other than their own, people will be more tolerant to one another. This belief is the reason why it is important for me to travel the world and show people both the best and worst of other cultures,” Russell said.

She would also like to spend one semester traveling abroad to “capture the essence of other cultures and poverty-ridden cities in photographs…I am convinced that this will be one of the most beneficial life experiences I will have. I will be able to see the world through the lens of my camera while continuing my studies.”

A total of 122 high school seniors throughout the U.S. completed Sigma Corporation of America Scholarship Contest submissions, which included three to five thematically-tied photos and an essay describing the photographer’s creative process. Online public voting took place between Feb. 16, 2010 and April 30, 2010 and Russell garnered 2,469 votes to qualify as one of the three finalists. Sigma Corporation of America executives then reviewed the three finalists’ work and selected Russell as the winner. The next scholarship contest will be introduced next fall.

To view all of this year’s scholarship submissions, visit http://scholarship.sigmaphoto.com/view-submissions.asp. For information on Sigma Corporation of America and its lenses, cameras and flashes, visit www.sigmaphoto.com.