And we have a winner!!!!

Last August before school began I stumbled across an architectural competition that I couldn't pass up. It was posted on a fairly well known architectural blog Archinect, and it was entitled "Live Forever: The Micheal Jackson Monument Design Competition. It was a few weeks after Jackson's passing, and I thought it would be a great way to brush up on my design/computer skills before school started. I stated to Caitlin that I would be up late, and spent from about 4 p.m. to 3 a.m. doing design and digital modeling. I woke up the next morning around 7 a.m. and polished the photorealistic renderings of the building and the space and prepared a competition board. I sent it off around 3 p.m., completing the entire design scheme and presentation in under 24 hours. The sponsers of the competition, the blog archinect and a competition website, bustler.net slowly posted the entrys for a viewer's choice award vote. I wasn't impressed with the response to my design, only a few people voted and it was dismal at best. Over 200 people/firms entered the competition so I wasn't too optimistic about my chances. The jury consisting of a number of respected individuals took quite a while to pick the winners of the competition. Friday morning I arrived at school early and routinely checked for results, and suprisingly they were posted (two weeks after originally announced). I scrolled through the first two, and I just about fell out of my chair when I saw the picture of my design board next to the 3rd place section. I won third place!!! You can all check it out here:LIVE FOREVER The Michael Jackson Monument Competition Unveils the Lucky Winners.
If you'd like an explanation for the image above I'd recommend reading my description on the link posted above. I took a "controversial" approach in my concept and design, which I think is really the only reason I won. I don't think that my design is neccisarily incredible, but it does capture some of Jackson's eccentricities. I guess I can make a name for myself by challenging and contrasting the norm. I feel that if it can create a dialog between differing sides than it has been effective. Anyways, his will look awesome in my grad school application, as it was international and had a large number of entries. I'm also excited about the 100$ and t-shirt, it's been a huge blessing!