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Meet Michael Kim, recipient of the 2026 Cody Sawatsky Memorial Award in Gaming
Michael Kim is a SIAT student pursuing a Bachelor of Science with a concentration in Gaming and Web Design. He was recently presented with the Cody Sawatsky Memorial Award in Gaming.
From a young age, Michael Kim has been a gamer. His tastes evolved over time from playing WiiSports on the couch with his brother to collaborative, exploration games with friends.
鈥淚 really like games where you work with your friends to achieve something a lot bigger, right?鈥� Michael says, 鈥測ou express yourself in this new space and you get closer together through your interactions. I find that really cool.鈥�
Entering the School of Interactive Arts & Technology (SIAT), Michael initially saw a university education as simply a path to a well-paying career, possibly in UX/UI design. However, as time went on, he found courses that encouraged his creative expression and chasing his passions.
鈥淕oing into my third year, I was in IAT 312 Foundations of Game Design and that really stood out to me because it not only showed that, you know, gaming isn't just limited to a hobby, it's taught at university and it can be a way to capture someone's creativity and artistic expression. It spoke to me and I'm actually glad that I went down this path.鈥�
Michael is the 2026 recipient of the Cody Sawatsky Memorial Award in Gaming, an award that recognizes a SIAT student who has successfully demonstrated outstanding project work within their completed course work in gaming. The award is presented in memory of Cody Sawatsky, an engaged and driven SIAT alumnus who found success as a video game producer and designer before he passed away in 2016.
Michael admits that before being nominated for this award, there were times when outside pressure to focus on the future, and specific career paths, almost led to him giving up on creating games. 鈥淧eople would say 鈥業t鈥檚 going to melt your brain. Focus on studying鈥�.鈥� Michael reflects, 鈥淚 was lost in myself on this journey鈥�
Being nominated for the Cody Sawatsky Memorial Award in Gaming has given Michael the opportunity to reflect on his journey and the validation that chasing his passions was always the right choice.
鈥淧utting my all into my passion and chasing the things I really want to do has led me to this moment, and that made me realize that I'm doing the right thing and I'm happy with myself.鈥�
Congratulations Michael! We can鈥檛 wait to see what you create next.