Woodlinks USA and IWF 2008 have announced a national competition for high-school students for the design and marketing of ready-to-assemble wood products. The five finalists will have their work displayed in Atlanta in August 2008, at the massive IWF trade show.

Entries must be small enough to be legally checked in without penalty on a commercial airline flight. At least 60 percent of the piece, by volume, must consist of solid wood or sheet goods. Only students whose schools participate in the Woodlinks USA program are eligible.

In addition to designing and building a prototype, students must also write assembly instructions and a one-page sales and marketing plan. Entries will be judged on innovation, design, quality, assembly instructions, commercial sales potential, and the quality of the marketing strategy.

WINNERS OF THE 2006 RTA CONTEST
	First place “Soccer Mom Chair” Alejandro Castaneda, Conrad Pena, Laylah Pinion Mesa High School Mesa, Ariz.
	Second place Knock-down chair, based on a Civil War design Joel Nichols, Andrew Ding, Jarret Bright Alexander High School Albany, Ohio
	Third place Walnut and Maple Side Table Andrew Stack Lincoln East High School Lincoln, Neb.
	Fourth place Student desk from 1 sheet of plywood Jessica Gibson, Josh Wimp, Jon Humphreys North Salem High School Salem, Ore.
	Fifth place Coffee table in mahogany and makore Michael Moore Cedar Ridge High School Hillsborough, N.C.
	Sixth place Rolling wine cabinet Erin Rehm Cedar Ridge High School Hillsborough, N.C.
	Seventh place Three-sided coffee table Mary Van Dempsey Cedar Ridge High School Hillsborough, N.C.

Winning entries in the last contest, in 2006, earned their schools prizes of up to $1,000 as well as tools.

Woodlinks was founded in 2001 to foster woodworking education in high schools and to help modernize the wood shop. Working with schools and businesses, Woodlinks helps schools add a business component to their shop curriculum, and it provides national certification, showing that students meet industry standards for skills, safety, and attendance. Woodlinks also helps train teachers.

IWF sponsors the world’s largest woodworking trade show. Held every two years, IWF draws attendees from all 50 states and numerous other countries. The last exhibit, held in Atlanta, drew nearly 44,000 registered attendees.

For more information about the contest, contact Mark Smith, P.O. Box 445, Tuscola, Ill. 61953, or e-mail him at: [email protected].

David Heim is Managing Editor of FWW.com