The RAISE Foundation celebrated its Educational Program’s 30th Year Anniversary at the Students’ Awards Banquet at Tamayo Restaurant and Art Gallery on May 18th. Graphic arts leaders, teachers, parents, and students enjoyed an evening of celebration and cheer in a festive, art-filled environment that could not be more perfect for such an occasion. The event was organized by PIASC and sponsored by The Katie Denne Memorial Fund, CACT, Superior Lithographics, Inc., Adams Press, Bickley Printing Co., Ink on Paper Solutions, The Label Shoppe, and the RAISE Foundation.

After a delicious dinner, students, and parents were anxious to find out who the winners were so they paid close attention as Susan Kinney, PIASC Education Chair and MC for the event, announced cheerfully the winners of this year’s competitions.

And the winners are…

Coloring Book Competition:

1st Place: El Camino Real Charter High School for The Story of Ash by Farrah Christopher, Stephanie Scholten, and Michelle Thwing

2nd Place: Pioneer High School for The Wonderful World of Trees by Elizabeth Cruz

3rd Place: South Pasadena High School for Trex the Tree’s Coloring Bookby Michelle Han

T-shirt Competition:

1st Place: Christopher Martin, Brea Olinda High School

2nd Place: Collin Victor Rummel, Pioneer High School

3rd Place: Cassandra Cortez, Pioneer High School

Packaging Competition (High School):

1st Place: Kaleigh Wyckhouse, Brea Olinda High School

2nd Place: Nicole Bezerra, El Camino Real Charter High School

3rd Place: Porooshat Afshar Farrokhnejad, Brea Olinda High School

Packaging Competition (College):

1st Place: Mark Lopez, East Los Angeles Occupational Center

2nd Place: Sandra Presley, Abram Friedman Occupational Center

3rd Place (tie): Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Team: Alyssa Wigant, Nicole Ruzich, Isabel Quan, Jared Mantzouranis, and Logan Kono

3rd Place (tie): Jose Saavedra, East Los Angeles Occupational Center

Bookmark Competition (College):

1st Place: Jose Saavedra, East Los Angeles Occupational Center

2nd Place: Mark Lopez, East Los Angeles Occupational Center

3rd Place: Sandra Presley, Abram Friedman Occupational Center

Skills USA State Competition Medalists:

Eagle Rock High School:

• Charlie Stein – GOLD MEDAL
• Marisa Escalante – SILVER MEDAL
• Chris Grepo – BRONZE MEDAL

South Pasadena High School

• Liz Osoy – GOLD MEDAL
• Michelle Han – SILVER MEDAL
• Truman Lesak – BRONZE MEDAL

East Los Angeles Occupational Center:

• Jose Saavedra – GOLD MEDAL
• Mark Lopez – SILVER MEDAL

Riverside Community College:

• Dustin Balugay – GOLD MEDAL
• Daniel Long – GOLD MEDAL
• Megan Moore – GOLD MEDAL
• Lillyus Johnson – SILVER MEDAL
• Phuong Vu – SILVER MEDAL
• Gabriela Diaz – BRONZE MEDAL

Congratulations to all the students that participated. Gold Medalists will now compete at the Skills USA National competition in Louisville, Kentucky June 20-24, 2017.

Our heartfelt thanks go to the following companies for sponsoring awards and/or feeding the kids: Adams Press, Bickley Printing Co., Ink on Paper, Superior Lithographics, Inc, The Label Shoppe. Also the Centers for Applied Competitive Technologies (CACT), The Katie Denne Memorial Fund, and the RAISE Foundation.