BYU students win Student Academy Award for animated short 'Owned'

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The makers of "Owned" now own a Student Academy Award — and will be bringing it home to Brigham Young University.

BYU students Daniel Clark and Wesley Tippetts received the Gold Medal for animation at a Student Academy Awards ceremony Saturday in Hollywood.

The awards are one of the most prestigious honors available for a college filmmaker, and are bestowed by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the group that hands out the Oscars every year.

The short centers on Jeff, a cocky videogame champion who is taken down a notch by an anonymous online opponent.

Earlier this year, "Owned" won a College Television Award — also known as a "student Emmy."

Winning a Student Academy Award is can be a major stepping stone. Past animation winners include Pixar's John Lasseter and Pete Docter, Shane Acker ("9") and Trey Parker ("South Park"). Other student winners include Spike Lee, Bob Saget and Robert Zemeckis.