Two days of intense competition culminated in 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, ON, 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. They also were presented with the 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 design was emblazoned on the commemorative T-shirts distributed to the 160 guests of the Phoenix Challenge awards banquet.

Utilizing two Mark Andy and two Comco flexographic presses at the Harper National Flexographic Center at Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, NC, USA, 46 students competed this year.

Peter Belanger, the coach to all of the Canadian participants, 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.”