Wisconsin pair shines at RTA contest

Madison (Wis.) Area Technical College came away with two of four awards at the recent IWF/WoodLINKS USA ready to assemble furniture (RTA) competition at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.

Joseph Disch took first place with his freestanding shelf, while Ambrose Hetzel tied for third with his bookshelf. Both are 2008 graduates of the college’s Cabinetmaking and Millwork program.

Finishing second was Quinter High School in Quinter, Kan. A team of three students — Tim Roesch, Josh Simon and Brady Reed — designed and manufactured “Slipity,” a multi-use piece that can be configured into a bookshelf and entertainment center.

Tying for third was Harper Creek High School in Battle Creek, Mich., with the team of Tom Thurston, Brian Williams and Nathan France.

The competition was open to WoodLINKS students from the U.S. and Canada. The projects were judged on concept, design, materials sourcing, production logistics, assembly instructions and a marketing plan.

This article originally appeared in the November 2008 issue.