CANADA'S GORDON GRAYDON

TEAM EARNS 1^ST PLACE AWARD!

PHOENIX CHALLENGE COMPETITION
CROWNS 2007 WINNERS
Canadians dominate 10th annual competition

Charlotte, NC. April 26, 2007. Two days of intense competition culminated in breathtaking victories for the Canadian competitors at the 10th Annual International Phoenix Challenge Flexo Skills Competition, when the team of Allan Tran and Tim Govey of Gordon Graydon Memorial Secondary School in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, broke all records for the Challenge’s highest score with 475 points. The pair of high school seniors each received a $1,000 scholarship and the Phoenix Challenge Gold medallion. The pair also were presented with the prestigious Harper Flexo Cup for display at their school. It is the second time in three years that Gordon Graydon Memorial Secondary School has the honor of displaying the cup signifying the home of the current Phoenix Challenge champions.

In addition, Gordon Graydon students Stephanie McIntosh and Nathan Plavnick placed second in the overall flexo competition with a score of 471, and each received the inaugural $500 Graymills Corporation Second Place Scholarship. The pair also took first place in The Amazing Flexo Race. The fun competition, which is based on the similarly named television program, involves completing numerous flexo-related challenges in a timed format.

Solidifying the Canadian victory sweep, Vineet Nayak, also a Gordon Graydon student, won first place in the Phoenix Challenge t-shirt design contest. His award-winning design was emblazoned on the commemorative t-shirts distributed to the 160 guests of the Phoenix Challenge awards banquet.

Coach to all of the Canadian participants, Gordon Graydon Memorial Secondary School flexography instructor Peter Belanger said, “These students have been focused, determined and persistent in their pursuit of the top honors in the competition. This year’s awards show that their resolve, skills and hard work have all been worth it. They were competing with North America’s top high school flexographers. I am really proud of them.”
Bettylyn Krafft, chairman of the Phoenix Challenge Foundation, commented, “My sincerest congratulations to all the Gordon Graydon students and to their dynamic instructor, Peter Belanger, for their amazing work this year. Their enthusiasm, combined with relentless and uncompromising determination paid off handsomely. They can be very proud to rise to the top of some very, very tough competition.”

She added, “We are celebrating our 10th anniversary in 2007, and indeed this has been a banner year for the International Phoenix Challenge Flexo Competition. We had a record number of 23 eager and highly trained student teams competing, and we are looking forward to 2008, projecting participation by more than 50 students! What these kids achieve here each year is amazing!”

Utilizing two Mark Andy and two Comco flexographic presses at the Harper National Flexographic Center at Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, N.C., 46 participants competed this year in the flexo industry’s only international training competition. The competition took place at the Harper National Flexographic Center at Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, N.C. during March 28-30, 2007.

About the Phoenix Challenge Foundation
Founded in 1998, the Phoenix Challenge Foundation is an all-volunteer not-for-profit organization of industry professionals dedicated to the recruitment and development of the future workforce for flexography. Each year, flexo high school students and teachers from throughout the U.S. and Canada are invited to the Phoenix Challenge, a two-day skill-based competition with hands-on and written testing in operating a flexo press, prepress, plate-making, and overall flexo knowledge. Winners are eligible for scholarships funded by the Phoenix Challenge Foundation. To date, $24,000 in scholarships has been awarded to encourage students to pursue further education and a career in flexography. For additional information or to make donations please visit www.phoenixchallenge.org
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The Phoenix Challenge Foundation – 6805 Pleasant Grove Road, Waxhaw, NC 28173