Showcasing the Next Generation
The Graphic Arts Education and Research Foundation (GAERF) (Booth 3967) is on a mission to find and recognize talented up-and-coming students, who will go on to be tomorrow’s industry rock stars. This year, they hosted both the SkillsUSA 53rd Annual National Leadership and Skills Conference (NLSC) and the GAERF 2017 Student Design Competition.
The SkillsUSA NLSC Championships were held June 19-23, in Louisville, KY. The event showcased more than 6,000 of the best technical and career education students in the United States. Winners in the various categories received prizes from a range of industry sponsors, as well as a $250 scholarship to each of the 23 Graphic Communications contestants.
“Supporting effective initiatives such as the SkillsUSA competition, which recognizes superior training and talent, is essential to the growth and future of the Graphic Communications Industry,” says GAERF President Thayer Long. “It is truly inspiring to see the high caliber of students represented among this year’s competitors and winners.”
The medalists for the Graphic Communications Competition (High School level) are:
- Gold – Haylee Cooper, Diman RVTHS, Fall River, MA
- Silver – Cody Brown, R W Johnson High School, Gainesville, GA
- Bronze – Lexi Hengeveld, Carroll County Career & Tech Center, Westminster, MD
And the medalists for the Graphic Communications Competition (College level) are:
- Gold – Brittany Whitestone, Carroll County Career & Tech Center, Westminster, MD
- Silver – Cheyanne Kasmierski, Thaddeus Stevens College of Tech, Lancaster, PA
- Bronze – Daniel Long, Riverside Community College, Riverside, CA.
Student design winners
GAERF also showcased student creativity in the 9th annual Student Design Competition. With a theme of “MAGnify!” this year, students at both the secondary and post-secondary levels were challenged to combine their critical thinking and creativity with cutting-edge technology to design and produce a printed magazine ad—featuring a product of their choice—and linked to digital media.
First place winners and their instructors received two-day, all-inclusive paid trips to attend PRINT 17, and will be presented with $2,000 checks during PRINT 17’s Career Awareness Day on Thursday, September 14. The second place winners were each awarded $1,500, and the third place winners received $1,000.
There were 177 entries this year, and an independent panel of judges selected the top three from each level.
Winners at the secondary school level were:
- 1st Place: Olivia English, Crawford County Career and Technical Center, Meadville, PA. Instructor: Dennis O’Laughlin
- 2nd Place: Sara Champagne, Tri Star Career Compact, Celina, OH. Instructor: Ryan Turnmire
- 3rd Place: Tyler Sullivan, Careerline Tech Center, Holland, MI. Instructor: Sally Salkowski
Winners at the post-secondary school level were:
- 1st Place: Arnold Agustin, Saddleback College, Mission Viejo, CA. Instructor: Steve Gonsowski
- 2nd Place: Sejal Banker, Saddleback College, Mission Viejo, CA. Instructor: Steve Gonsowski
- 3rd Place: Allison Liaw, Saddleback College, Mission Viejo, CA. Instructor: Steve Gonsowski
“GAERF is proud to continue its longstanding commitment to supporting education initiatives by encouraging creativity and self-expression in students through the art of design and production,” says Long. “Plans for next year’s Student Design Competition are already underway, when GAERF will again recognize our best and brightest students, as well as the significant commitment of their instructors.”
To see all of the winning entries, plus many of the runners up, visit the GAERF Student Design Competition at Booth 3968, and the SkillsUSA Graphic Communications Competition at Booth 3969.
