Erich Hauptmann

2011 Distinguished Achievement Memorial Award

Erich William Hauptmann, 25, received a B.S. degree in Computer Science in 2008. His employment with Digital Domain, the award-winning special effects studio in Venice, CA was a dream come true for him.

He worked on The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, GI JOE: The Rise of Cobra, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Star Trek, Speed Racer, and 2012. He is credited as Technical Assistant for Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief. Shortly before his death he was promoted to Assistant Technical Director of the Commercials division and participated in the production of the first 3D cinema spots ever created for a consumer electronic brand, the Samsung LED TV.

One of Erich’s managers said: “Erich was able to cross the line between artist and engineer, teacher and student, colleague and friend. ... [He] earned the respect of his colleagues by his sheer motivation, proving that he could tackle any problem thrown his way, no matter how difficult.”