At just 14 years old, Dart Sherman, Explorer Academy student and founder of Rainbow Dye Games, has made waves in the gaming community.

His creative achievements in game development recently earned him a $1,000 William Huckabee STEM Scholarship, awarded to young innovators in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Dart expressed his gratitude. “I love the community of programmers and artists in Washington, and the support for them means a ton,” he said. “Plus, honoring somebody who was one of the people who started this group is so great.”

Dart’s work has included a variety of collaborative projects with other young creators, ranging from game jams to long-term partnerships. His current project, Sabotage City, is a satirical city destruction game inspired by the aesthetics of 1990’s personal computer gaming. As the protagonist, players work for a demolition company tasked with razing cities under the orders of corrupt mayors prioritizing profits over people.

“It’s about more than just destruction,” Dart explained. “It explores how we push people out of the places they live instead of lifting them up. It’s my way of using art to address societal issues while still making something fun to play.”

Dart’s passion for game development stems from his love for combining different creative disciplines, including music, art and storytelling. “Video games are an incredible medium for communicating ideas,” he said. “If I want to be great at making things when I’m an adult, I need to start young. Plus, staying up until 6 a.m. making art isn’t bad either.”

The scholarship will help Dart tackle the logistical and creative challenges of game development, such as paying collaborators, navigating publishing requirements, and finalizing Sabotage City for release on platforms like Steam. “Reading the Steam terms of service is almost as hard as becoming a doctor, but I got through it,” he joked.

Dart hopes his work inspires others to pursue their passions while addressing important issues. “It’s about building communities that uplift people, both in the real world and in the gaming space,” he said.

As he looks to the future, Dart invites others to follow him @Rainbow_Dye_Games on YouTube or @rainbowdyegames on X.

As for his long-term vision, Dart emphasized his commitment to creating meaningful experiences. “I think it’s important to use art to help people,” he said. “I have a lot of things I’d like to say, and games let me do that.”