Six UK Architecture Students Named Finalists in National Furniture Competition

LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 9, 2014) — Six students from the University of Kentucky School of Architecture in the College of Design have been selected as finalists in the International Woodworking Fair (IWF) "Design Emphasis" Student Furniture Design Competition in Atlanta, Georgia. The competition will be held in the Georgia World Congress Center the week of Aug. 18, 2014.

The six students who have been selected to compete are:

· Nikki Challita, architecture graduate student from Bellbrook, Ohio;

· Adam Eaton, 2014 graduate with a master's degree in architecture from Bellbrook;

· Adam Logsdon, architecture graduate student from Louisville, Kentucky;

· Mark Manczyk, architecture graduate student from Taylor Mill, Kentucky;

· Sarah Mohr, 2014 graduate with a master's degree in architecture from Smithton, Illinois; and

· Don Shepperson, architecture senior from Lancaster, Kentucky.

All six students in the competition were in the spring 2014 furniture studio taught by Professor Leonard Wujcik.

The "Design Emphasis" competition brings students from design schools across the nation to exhibit their work at IWF for judging by a panel of professionals made up of furniture industry designers, manufacturing and retail executives, and members of the trade press who have design-oriented backgrounds. The competition recognizes and rewards designs in five categories: seating, case goods, commercial/office/hospitality furniture, accent furniture/accent tables, and design creativity.

Over $10,000 in prize money will be awarded and presented in a ceremony following the judging of "Design Emphasis." As well as being involved in the competition, the students will also be able to attend the trade show itself, allowing them to make valuable career contacts and share ideas with fellow design students from across the country.

IWF is a trade show known around the world for offering new and innovative products and solutions for furniture manufacturing, cabinetry, architectural woodworking, material processing and other related industries, as well as bringing industry professionals from around the globe together for great networking opportunities. At IWF, visitors can view the newest products and trends and learn from those who have already troubleshot the solutions. 

MEDIA CONTACT: Whitney Hale, 859-257-8716; whitney.hale@uky.edu