PARKERSBURG, W. VA. — Three Missouri students claimed the 2012 WoodLINKS USA – IWF RTA Contest First Prize Award presented at the International Woodworking Fair at Atlanta in late August. Woodcraft is one of the contest sponsors.

Nikki Look, Zach Ludden, and Lucas Shelton, representing Rolla Technical Institute, Rolla, Missouri, won nearly $12,000 worth of tools, accessories and supplies with their Travolo Di Stiles Table. Contestants were required to set up a company to design, build and market a product that is at least 60 percent solid wood or panel board and ready-to-assemble (RTA). Judges evaluated each team’s marketing plan, product evaluation, and oral presentation. As part of their project, the Rolla team created a video for members to present the table’s design features, demonstrate the easy assembly, explain the evolution of their design, show the production process, and present the option to order a table (available in oak, cherry, walnut and birch). The team also designed and produced packaging for the accent table, which was marketed to the local community and their school.

Team Rolla’s prize package includes: an Ironwood JT300 Jointer from Stiles/Ironwood ($5,790), a TigerStop SawGear (SG08) Measuring System ($2,695), a Graco Merkur ES Spray Package with G15 Gun ($2,290), a $600 toolbox and tools for each student from FastCap, a $300 gift certificate from Custom Service Hardware, and four gallons of finish and one gallon of stain from Valspar ($131).

Other contest winners include: Dale Jackson Career Center, Lewisville,Texas, two teams, second place (stackable wine rack) and fifth place (coffee table with secret compartment); Quinter High School, Quinter, Kansas, third place (oriental style blanket chest); and Southern Virginia Higher Education Center, South Boston, Virginia, fourth place (Universal Lightbulb project). Their prize packages of tools, accessories and supplies ranged from approximately $1,955 to $810.

To view the Travolo Di Stiles Table marketing video and to learn more about all the contest winners and their prizes, visit Woodworking Adventures at http://blog.woodcraft.com/2012/08/rolla-technical-institute-wins-iwf-wo….

Headquartered in Morris, Illinois, WoodLINKS USA is a nonprofit organization with the long-term goal of providing the wood industry with the necessary skilled workers to remain competitive at the entry and management levels. To accomplish this goal, WoodLINKS provides a format for industry and education to work together to train the workforce of the future. To learn more about WoodLINKS visit www.woodlinksusa.org.

For more information about Woodcraft, the industry leader in providing a wide variety of top quality products, educational opportunities and one-on-one guidance to woodworkers of all skill levels, visit www.woodcraft.com. To learn about Woodcraft franchise opportunities, call (800) 344-3348, visit www.woodcraftfranchise.com or email [email protected].

Source: Woodcraft Supply LLC