EDPA Foundation International Student Design Scholarship Competition Helps Support Future Designers

(Atlanta- February 7, 2007) EDPA Foundation gives a hand to the winners of the 2007 International Student Design Scholarship Competition. The Foundation gives a well-deserved round of applause to all the participants for their efforts, and the participants who placed in the top five receive, a helping hand with their tuition. Sophomores and Junior’s who placed in the top five were from Otis College of Art and Design and Kansas State University. 

Thanks to the assistance of the competition’s sponsors, the EDPA Foundation is able to award $8,000 in tuition assistance. On behalf of the EDPA Foundation, a generous thank you goes out to Freeman, GES, Cort Trade Show Furnishings, Octanorm USA, EXHIBITOR, Moss, Inc., Pinnacle Exhibits, Star Exhibits & Environments, MICE North America and AutoDesk.
 
Judges bestowed Gary Garcia of Otis College of Art and Design with the title of first place winner and a $4,000 tuition scholarship. Heather Wise of Kansas State University received a $2,500 tuition scholarship chosen as second place winner. At third place, Kevin Lee also of Otis College of Art and Design received a tuition scholarship of $1,500. Kathryn Steib of Kansas State University and Jesus Aguilar of Otis College of Art & Design placed fourth and fifth respectively receiving, along with the top three winners, a complete design package from AutoDesk and opportunities for paid internships with sponsoring companies.

Overall the judges, Tom Yurkin Vice-President Creative Corporate Accounts for Freeman and Design Director for the competition, Jan Lorence of Lorence & Yoo Design, and Tim Kelley of Bluesky Exhibits were impressed with the “experience” the students projected in their design. Their judgments were based on effectiveness on the trade show floor, audience experience and engagement, creative ingenuity, and more.

The competition’s website, www.LaunchYourCareerInExhibitDesign.com aptly describes the primary purpose of the competition which is to generate awareness among university students about exhibit design as a career.  The students were challenged to design a 60’ x 80’ booth launching the fictional company, “ntrance” and five of its video games at the 2007 GEE (Gaming and Electronic Expo). The success of this design will be based on total leads gathered, retail sales of the new products, impact and general awareness on the show floor, and press coverage to be measured against the investment of this event. “The entries were very impressive, had great overall architectural feel and very creative. These students have a great future ahead of them in exhibit design. I look forward to seeing these students excel and become part of the exhibit design community,” said Tom Yurkin.

The EDPA Foundation, Inc. (EDPAF) manages the International Student Exhibit Design Scholarship Competition. Governed and administered by EDPA, the EDPA Foundation also manages the Las Vegas Scholarship Fund, silent auction, Fashion Institute of Technology Masters Degree Program, EDPAF Charity Poker Tournament, endowment program and sponsors the Randy Smith Memorial Golf Classic. For more information about the EDPA Foundation visit www.edpaf.org or Student Design Competition visit www.launchyourcareerinexhibitdesign.com

The Exhibit Designers and Producers Association (EDPA) is an International organization providing a unified voice for member companies that design, build, install, service and transport portable, modular and custom exhibits for the exhibit and event industry.  For more information about EDPA please visit www.edpa.com

2007 Design Competition Winners

First Place
Gary Garcia

Second Place
Heather Wise

Third Place
Kevin Lee

Forth Place
Kathryn Steib

Fifth Place
Jesus Aguilar