CONESTOGA COLLEGE
Woodworking showcase highlights students' craftsmanship

Second-year students from Conestoga's Woodworking Technology program displayed their capstone projects at a showcase held in the Woodworking Centre of Ontario at the Kitchener - Doon campus.

Industry sponsors FS Tool and Rampa Tec joined the showcase on August 14 and presented awards for the top projects.

During the awards ceremony, a representative from Rampa Tec presented the Rampa Tec Design Award and a monetary prize of $350 to Megan Marsh for her writing desk/vanity. Built out of mahogany and sapele, the desk has a removable component that can turn into a framed mirror as well as three drawers.

Nicholas Pressey's live-edge desk with a glass river inlay and black hardware earned him first place in the Best in Manufactured Product Award as well as $500 in prize money, sponsored by FS Tool.

"The glass inlay was a complicated process - figuring out all the steps and lining up the angles perfectly," said Pressey. "I enjoyed seeing what I had on paper become real."

Aiming to replace his low-quality desk at home, the student used mappa burl wood for most of the desk's body, complete with a maple cabinet and walnut accents.

Second place and a prize of $300 went to Zoey Lennox, who was inspired to build a desk after seeing a video online. Her creation was made from wormy maple, cherry and walnut. She even built a miniature version of it to sit on top as a laptop or monitor stand.

"It's nice to have everything flow together. I especially enjoyed the finishing part; sanding and coating it to have a smooth finish," she said.

Third place and $200 went to Noah Williams and their TV stand made from an eclectic mix of different-coloured woods. Williams used Australian lacewood, inspired by their Australian background, as well as wenge, walnut, cherry, purpleheart, mahogany and cocobolo. "I have an artist background, so I have experience working with colour and wanted to bring that into this project," they said.

Their dislike for their current TV stand at home inspired this project: "I wanted to get rid of it. I'm slowly replacing my mother's furniture piece by piece," they joked.

The Woodworking Centre of Ontario is among North America's leading training centres for woodworking. This respected and renowned institution, established in 1988, has produced countless industry leaders and talented craftspeople who have gone on to have fulfilling careers in the woodworking trade.

Conestoga offers several woodworking programs at the centre: Woodworking Technology, Woodworking Technician, Woodworking Techniques and Cabinetmaker.