Students adapt and impress judges, the industry and the Phoenix Challenge Foundation

Charlotte, N.C. – The 2020 Phoenix Challenge College Competition, while adapting to these current uncertain times, was a success on May 2nd. This competition is a fine example of dedication, problem solving and perseverance in tough environments. All the participating teams and students have shown their caliber of talent and poise as they aim for careers in the flexo and package printing industry.

The Foundation is excited to announce the winners of this past weekend’s college flexo competition which was held online May 2, 2020 with great success. This year, due to our unique situation and truncated project parameters, teams were judged in four categories - Presentation, Research, Graphics, Concept and Execution. These scores are weighted and rolled up into an Overall Team Score for each team. Final results are as follows:

First Place – CalPoly – Caitlin Royston, Amber Huang, Ashley Chen, Julienne Chiang, Rita Yu, Morgan Wertz, Hannah Krieg and Trent Kammerer

Second Place – University of Wisconsin-Stout – Matthew Smith, Nikolas Thomas, Eli Dupslaff, Julia Otten and Molly Perkins

Third Place – Central Piedmont Community College – Sabrina Baez, Maddie Purser, Julie Goslin, Tucker Naumann, Jonathan Hall, Matt Gabriel and John Diamond

The winning team, CalPoly, will be featured during this year’s 2020 FTA Virtual Forum Online program where they will showcase their presentation and printed packaging during the session on May 6, 2020 titled “FQC: Exploring Technology & Defining Value in Packaging” – to be held from 2:00-4:00 p.m. Eastern

Regarding this year’s competition, Foundation Chairman Bettlyyn Krafft said, “I continue to be inspired, impressed and frankly just blown away by the college competition. The students take it up several notches every year. This year, with all the difficulties surrounding the pandemic, these students went even further above and beyond. This is why I do this, to help and watch these students thrive!!”

All the Phoenix Challenge student participants, though the support of the Foundation, can continue their education and do become productive participants at companies in our industry. From young career entries to long-standing professional leaders, the Phoenix Challenge Foundation has helped develop talent that now works with leading companies including: J. R. Cole Industries, Salem One, MacDermid Graphics Solutions, Harper Corporation, Quantum Ink Co., Tesa Tape, Anderson/Vreeland, Mark Andy, Inc., We Are Alexander and more.

Support needed! Sponsors are crucial to driving our industry’s future!

Visit the Phoenix Challenge website