Young Animator is Crafting a Bright Future

Just because Kevin Temmer successfully completed the rigorous International Baccalaureate program at Land O’ Lakes High School doesn’t mean he intends to take it easy.

The recent graduate spent his summer whipping up new animations and has now begun classes at the Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota. It’s his hope to earn his degree in computer animation and eventually go on to create his own shows.

While he’s just begun his college career, Temmer’s animations are already making waves all over the country. Over the summer, Temmer’s animation “Prepare for the Science Fair” was featured on NASA’s website. He was also asked to create an original animation called “Cool Jobs” for the World Science Festival.

Temmer also collected a few accolades over the summer. He was recently recognized in the 2011 International Student Media Festival. There he was honored with Judges’ Favorite and Excellence in Media Production awards. The IB alumni blog has also featured Temmer’s work.

The amount of attention Temmer’s animations have received doesn’t come as a surprise to Holly Rockhill. As the assistant principal over Land O’ Lakes High’s IB program, Rockhill has been able to watch Temmer grow and develop as a student, a young man and an artist.

“The philosophy of the International Baccalaureate is for students to be inquirers and thinkers,” Rockhill wrote in an email. “Kevin embodies these traits and we are not surprised by his success and know that he will continue to achieve. He was a joy to have in our school family.”

Temmer’s father, Bryan, is thrilled with his son’s continued success and the spotlight Kevin’s work has received.

“I’m just glad more kids are getting to see his animation,” Bryan Temmer said. “Kevin’s video will get kids interested (in science).”

Bryan Temmer also said he’s proud of his son and very pleased he’s decided to attend Ringling, which is fairly close to the family’s Land O’ Lakes home.

“I’m really excited about it,” Bryan Temmer said. “It is a tough program. Now he’s surrounded by other artists who are just as good and many are really better.” The challenge, he said, will help Kevin develop his work to “a new height.”

While the work is hard, Kevin, 18, said he’s enjoying classes at Ringling’s Sarasota campus.

“It’s going very well,” he said. “The classes are interesting.”

Kevin said he’s not working on a particular animation right now, but hopes to land an internship in the near future.

To see more of Kevin’s work, visit kevintemmer.com.