Next Generation of Imagers Prove Their Prowess at 51st Annual SkillsUSA

The 51st SkillsUSA NLSC drew more than 16,000 students, teachers and business partners spanning the entire 1.2M square feet of the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Kentucky. More than 6,000 outstanding career and technical education students –– all state contest winners –– competed in 100 different trade, technical and leadership fields. There were 23 competitors in the Screen Printing Technology competition and 19 competitors in the Graphic Imaging –– Sublimation competition.  Students worked against the clock and each other, proving their expertise in occupations such as screen printing, dye sublimation, computer-aided drafting, T-shirt design and advertising design. Contests are run with the help of industry, trade associations and labor organizations, and test competencies are established by the industry.  Congratulations to the following SkillsUSA Winners: Graphic Imaging Sublimation –– Post-Secondary Gold: Austin Hutchinson (Autry Technology Center, Enid, Oklahoma) Silver: Skyler Massey (Ozarks Technical Community College, Springfield, Missouri) Bronze: Doug Lowell (Mid-Florida Tech Institute, Orlando, Florida) Graphic Imaging Sublimation –– Secondary Gold: Corey Todalen (Austin High School, Austin, Minnesota) Silver: Luis Varela-Cacario (Dubiski Career High School, Grand Prairie, Texas) Bronze: Lizzi Rataj (Sikeston Career & Technology Center, Sikeston, Missouri) Screen Printing Technology –– Post-Secondary Gold: Kimberly Jeppson (Salt Lake Community College, Salt Lake City, Utah) Silver: Bradley Carlton (Forsyth Tech Community College, Winston-Salem, North Carolina) Bronze: Babara Paris (Waynesville Career Center, Waynesville, Missouri) Screen Printing Technology –– Secondary Gold: Travis Hathaway (Waynesville Career Center, Waynesville, Missouri) Silver: Haleigh Alexander (Pickens County Career and Technology Center, Liberty, South Carolina) Bronze: KD Dehnert (Douglas High School, Minden, Nevada) Supporting industry partners: Coastal Business Supply, Condé Systems Inc., Fimor North America, Freehand Graphics, Inc., GraphicElephants.com, Graphics One LLC, Great Dane Graphics, HIX Corporation, Insta Graphic Systems, International Coatings, KIWO, Murakami USA, NazDar SourceOne, NEWMAN ROLLER FRAMES mfg. by Stretch Devices Inc., PolyOne/Wilflex, Sawgrass Inc., Stahls', T-Biz Network, Unisub, and Vapor Apparel. The following are the award packages granted to the competitors, as well as the packages awarded to the schools of each winner. Note: Each package was awarded to both the Secondary and Post-Secondary divisions. Competitor Awards –– Screen Printing Technology 1^st Prize (Over $3,000 value)

• 12 MZX 18”x20” Retensionable Frames with Mesh (NEWMAN ROLLER FRAMES mfg. by Stretch Devices Inc.) 
• Separation Studio software (Freehand Graphics, Inc.)
• 1 Operation Screen Print, Mission 1: Killer Black Shirts training kit (GraphicElephants.com)
• Set of 6 Newman Constant Force Squeegees (NEWMAN ROLLER FRAMES mfg. by Stretch Devices Inc.) 
• Set of 7500 Series ink (International Coatings)
• Set of MX iink (PolyOne/Wilflex)
• Set of 6 Manual Squeegees (Fimor North America)
• 1 gal. Emulsion (Murakami USA) 
• 1 Exposure Calculator (KIWO)
• 10-pak of Artwork (Great Dane Graphics)

 2^nd Prize (Over $1,000 value)

• 8 MZX 18”x20” Retensionable Frames with Mesh  (NEWMAN ROLLER FRAMES mfg. by Stretch Devices Inc.) 
• Set of 4 Newman Constant Force Squeegees  (NEWMAN ROLLER FRAMES mfg. by Stretch Devices Inc.) 
• 1 gal. Epic Amazing Bright White (PolyOne/Wilflex) 
• Set of 4 Manual Squeegees (Fimor North America)
• 1 gal. White and 1 gal. Black ink (International Coatings)
• 1 qt. Emulsion (Murakami USA)
• 5-pak of Artwork (Great Dane Graphics)

3^rd Prize ($500 value)

• 6 MZX 18”x20” Retensionable Frames with Mesh  (NEWMAN ROLLER FRAMES mfg. by Stretch Devices Inc.) 
• $100 Voucher (Nazdar SourceOne) 

School Awards –– Screen Printing Technology 1st Prize (Over $3,000 value) 

• Screen Printing Curriculum Package (HIX Corporation)
• $1,000 Matching Grant (HIX Corporation)
• $2,000 Voucher (NEWMAN ROLLER FRAMES mfg. by Stretch Devices Inc.) 

2nd Prize (Over $2,000 value)

• Screen Printing Curriculum Package (HIX Corporation)
• $700 Matching Grant (HIX Corporation)
• $1,500 Voucher (NEWMAN ROLLER FRAMES mfg. by Stretch Devices Inc.) 

3rd Prize (Over $1,500 value)

• Screen Printing Curriculum Package (HIX Corporation)
• $500 Matching Grant (HIX Corporation)
• $1,000 Voucher (NEWMAN ROLLER FRAMES mfg. by Stretch Devices Inc.) 

Competitor Awards –– Graphic Imaging-Sublimation 1^st Prize ($1,149 value)

• 1 Virtuoso SG400 Sublimation Inkjet Printer (Sawgrass Inc.)
• 1 Heat Press (Insta Graphic Systems OR GraphicsOne LLC)
• $100 Voucher (Vapor Apparel)
• 10-pak of Artwork (Great Dane Graphics)

2^nd Prize ($175 value)

• 1 case of 11-ounce Sublimation Coffee Mugs (Coastal Business Supply)
• $75 Voucher (Vapor Apparel)
• -pak of Artwork (Great Dane Graphics)

3^rd Prize ($50 value)

• $50 Voucher (Vapor Apparel)

School Awards –– Graphic Imaging-Sublimation 1^st Prize ($1,540 value)

• 1 Swingman 20P Heat Press (HIX Corporation)

2^nd Prize ($1,025 value)

• 1 HT400P Heat Press (HIX Corporation)

3^rd Prize ($725 value)

• Swingman 15 Heat Press (HIX Corporation)