Howard Vreeland, Breanna Hill, Lualaali Cruz & Bettlylyn Krafft

Charlotte, NC. – The 2024 Phoenix Challenge High School Skill Competition is on the books. 34 Students made up 17 teams in Charlotte last week for the competition. A record participation year in quite some time. The skilled trade world is heating up as young career seekers are drawn to trades that fit their goals and ambitions!

2024 High School Skills Competition WINNERS!
The student teams were great. This years High School Skills Competition winners are:

1ST Place - Noelle Hutchings & Kiersten Cole - Knox High School
2ND Place - Clare Hotchkiss & Joise Fynewever - Careerline Tech Center
3RD Place - Ravyn Reed & Ella Wilson - CTS of Lackawanna County

The 27-year-old high school skills program has exposed more than 6,000 students and career-seekers to the flexo industry. Today, more than 500 are known to work across all aspects of the industry, from pre-press, plate making and ink mixing all the way to vice president rolls at leading industry suppliers like Harper Corporation and Comexi. The results are undeniable when it comes to building tomrrow’s workforce for flexography and label/package printing.

One of the highest values the Phoenix Challenge Foundation stands upon is teamwork, and also recognize Excellence in Teamwork. This years’ recipients are Lualaali Cruz & Breanna Hill.

Finally, the Phoenix Challenge Foundation also recognizes an educator who’s impact can be felt throughout the flexo program at participating High Schools and Tech/Career Schools. Named after are primary visionary almost 30 years ago, the 2024 Diann Teague award was presented to Marie Sullivan of Fox Valley High School.

The Phoenix Challenge Foundation would like to thank volunteer judges, educators, and industry experts! The Foundation couldn’t do it without you!

The Foundation is a non-profit and has been “Building Tomorrow’s Workforce” for more than 27 years. 100% backed by industry sponsors and supporters. The year’s High School Event Sponsors included:

- Anderson & Vreeland - Harper Corporation - JR Cole Industries Inc. - Tesa Tape - TLMI - Print & Graphics Scholarship Foundation
- ICPF - International Corrugated Packaging Foundation
- Graymills - Maxcess / Rotometrics - Mark Andy

Regarding this year’s competition, Foundation Chairman Bettlyyn Krafft said, “I continue to be inspired, impressed and frankly just excited to see the number of participants. It shows that skilled trades are needed and there is growing interest in flexo, label and package printing. This is why I do this, to help and watch these students thrive!!”

Visit the Phoenix Challenge website