Tuesday, November 9, 2004

Episcopal alumnus Christian Egéa-Kuehne, ’92, was awarded the prestigious 2004 Prix Michel Colonna D’Istria for his prototype of an educational multimedia network game designed to explain the strategy involved in fighting cancer.

Mr. Egéa-Kuehne was honored by the GESTE (Groupement des editeurs de services in ligne) in a June ceremony. Mr. Egéa-Kuehne was selected for the honor from 128 proposals based on his work creating a multimedia network game prototype to help children ages 12-17 suffering from cancer to better understand the strategy to fight the disease.

“This project was born of a desire to inform through artistic means supported by technology while exploiting the possibilities of communication offered by the Internet,” Mr. Egéa-Kuehne said. This project was also motivated by a need for Mr. Egéa-Kuehne to understand what happened to his sister Chantal, who died of cancer before she was 7 years old, and to produce something that could help other children struck by cancer.

Mr. Egéa-Kuehne created the prototype as his final project for his diploma in visual communication at the Ecole Superieure des Arts Decoratifs (ESAD) of Strasbourg, France, where he earned the highest honors. He earned his bachelor’s degree in European studies and philosophy from the American University of Paris magna cum laude in 1996.

Once released in its final version, Mr. Egéa-Kuehne’s game will be offered on CD-ROM and playable either individually or in teams via a LAN network or the Internet.

The Michel Colonna d’Istria award recognizes a product or production supported by digital technology and corresponding to the values that Michel Colonna d’Istria defended throughout his life: freedom of information, publishing independence, social solidarity and defense of the French language. The award includes a substantial grant.