Canadian High Schooler Wins 2015 Fresh Wood Best of Show Award
Graity, Fresh Wood, AWFS Fair 2015
Gravity
LAS VEGAS  – Zachery Lush, a student at Fletcher’s Meadow Secondary School, Brampton, ON., won The Best of Show Award, in the 2015 AWFS® Fresh Wood Competition after judges reviewed the projects of 40 finalists from 21 different high schools and colleges in the U.S. and Canada at the AWFS®Fair in Las Vegas. Twenty-six students went home with monetary prizes ranging from $250 to $1,000.
 

Lush was awarded a coveted, custom veneer-marquetry sculpture made by master craftsman Paul Schürch, for his shelf Gravity.  This was the first year for the new trophy, which will feature a sculpture made by a different woodworking artist each year. He received $1,000 and a Rikon 14” Bandsaw.  He also received First Place in the High School Open category of the competition, which included another $1,000 prize and a Certificate of Merit. The Best of Show award is sponsored by Rikon Power Tools.

SLIDESHOW

See Slidehow of all the 2015 AWFS Fair Fresh Wood Student Winners

Judges selected from among 40 entries


Fair attendees awarded the People’s Choice Award, sponsored by Wagner Meters, and a $500 prize to Werner Pyka from Palomar College, for his Quint-Essential federal-style gaming table, which also won First Place in the Post-Secondary tables category.

 
Two teachers had multiple student winners: David Welter, College of Redwoods; Peter Boeckh, Fletcher’s Meadow Secondary School; Tim McNeill, Corner Canyon High School; Jack Stone, Palomar College; Keith Yow, Cedar Ridge High School.
 
The judging panel - consisting of Bob Barone, a luthier; Martin Goebel, owner of Goebel & Co Furniture; Daniel Hellman, co-owner of Hellman-Chang; Saul Martin, Architectural Woodworking Company; Richard A. Schroeder, Stanley Furniture and Davide Tonizzo, Design D - provided a variety of perspectives to the judging process.   
 
First Place winners in each category and at each school level received a $1,000 prize, Second Place winners received $500 and Honorable Mention winners received $250. AWFS covers project shipping and the majority of travel and hotel costs to bring the students and their teachers to Las Vegas.
 
The biennial event, held as part of AWFS®Fair, attracted 169 entries from 44 different schools in the United States and Canada in 2015, which represents a 30% increase in entries from the previous competition in 2013.
 
High School Level First Place Winners 
Case Goods: Isaac Lutz, Cedar Ridge High School, Hillsborough, NC, Secret Ingredient
Tables: Mae Garcia, Fletcher’s Meadow Secondary School, Brampton, ON, Burst
Seating: Brittney Hoffmeier, Mustang High School, Mustang, OK, Sam Maloof Rocking Chair Replica
Open: Zachery Lush, Fletcher’s Meadow Secondary School, Brampton, ON, Gravity
Design for Production: Elizabeth Mawalal, Fletcher’s Meadow Secondary School, Brampton, ON, Kage
Special Theme: Musical Instruments: Sadie Chidester, Corner Canyon High School, Draper, UT, Featherprint
 
Post-secondary Level First Place Winners 
Case Goods: Matthew Spallinger, University of Rio Grande, Rio Grande, OH, Miniature Highboy
Tables: Werner Pyka, Palomar College, San Marcos, CA, Quint-Essential
Seating: Austin (Tian) Yang, Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA, Grace Chair
Open: Joshua Torbick, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, Standing Wedge
Design for Production: Jonathan Manoles, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, Bent Lounge Chair
Special Theme: Musical Instruments: Brendan Bernhardt Gaffney, College of the Redwoods, Fort Bragg, CA, Cabinetmaker’s Zither
 
High School Level Second Place Winners 
Case Goods: Erik Lutz, Cedar Ridge High School, Hillsborough, NC, Port Hole Desk
Tables: Daniela Karmalyuk, Dale Jackson Career Center, Lewisville, TX Nature’s Beauty Table
Seating: Onkar Nagra, Fletcher’s Meadow Secondary School, Brampton, ON, Eclipse
Open: Kayla Dean, Mustang High School, Mustang, OK, Mahogany Baby Cradle
Special Theme: Musical Instruments: Jake Rubisch, Corner Canyon High School, Draper, UT, Mahogany Gem
 
Post-secondary Level Second Place Winners 
Tables: William Strenger, Palomar College, San Marcos, CA, Arch Bridge
Seating: Jessica Osserman, College of the Redwoods, Fort Bragg, CA, Variations on a theme
Case Goods: Matt Mecaro, Palomar College, San Marcos, CA, Krenov-Inspired Cabinet 
 
High School Level Honorable Mention Winners 
Case Goods: Zachary Studdard, Rolla Technical Institute, Rolla, MO, The Herring
Open: Alex Salzman, Lincoln East High School, Lincoln, NE, Bubinga Player
Special Theme: Musical Instruments: Porter Thorkelson, Corner Canyon High School, Draper, UT, Sun Burst
 
Post-secondary Level Honorable Mention Winners 
Seating: Funi Ding, Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA, Merge
Design for Production: Benjamin Pedrick, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, Sema Seat
Case Goods: Nick Weiers, Hennepin Technical College, Faribault, MN, Stereo Cabinet
 

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