FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 27, 2008
QVCC 5th ANNUAL HIGH SCHOOL PLASTICS EXPO
On Friday, May 16th, area high school students participated in the 5th annual High School Plastics Expo at Quinebaug Valley Community College. This expo pairs teams of high school student with representatives from local plastics companies. The event was sponsored by the Quinebaug Valley Plastics Institute (QVPI), the Eastern Workforce Investment Board, Next Generation Regional Manufacturing Center, the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development and QVCC College Career Pathways.
President of QVPI and Vice President/General Manager of Putnam Precision Molding, Inc., Jeanne Zesut said, “Despite time restraints associated with six schools and companies presenting their products and completing the entire Expo in a three hour span, our 2008 Expo was exceptional. Over the five years that QVPI has held an Expo we observed ever increasing improvement in the quality of the products and student presentations. Our Expo allows QVPI to reach as many students as possible and provide them the magnificent opportunity to learn about plastics from a hands-on approach of making a product from the initial stages through the processing stages of becoming a reality. We thank the schools and companies for their continued belief that this Expo and as a learning experience worthy of their support.”
Awards and participating schools included:
Killingly
High School – Winner of the Judges’ Choice Award for their product Plast-X
Bags, a "green" product made from scrap material which is water-proof, stain
resistant and washable. (See photo at left.)
Plainfield High School – Winner of the People's Choice award for their product Dr. Tap. This is a refrigerator bottle that retains carbonization and can dispense beverages without being removed from the refrigerator.
Other entries included:
H.H. Ellis Technical High School and their product “The KickStop”. This is an industrial strength doorstop designed for use in industry and residences that will not slip or loosen. It is dishwasher safe and can be hung over the doorknob for convenience.
Putnam High and their product "Let's Glow". This is a kit of adhesive mounted, glow in the dark paper product used to mark wall switches and stairs and bathroom areas that can be used in power outages or other areas that are used during the night hours.
Tourtellotte
Memorial High School with their product “The Second Sight Infrasizer”, a
helmet-mounted camera that uses infrared technology to enhance games and
sports. (See photo at right.)
Woodstock Academy and their product “The Slippy Grippy”. This product is
a shoe-mounted strap that reduces slipping on ice, mud and other slippery
surfaces. I
All student teams and their company team members received awards of
achievement or appreciation.
CONTACT
Margie Huoppi
Publications Associate
(860) 774-1133
mhuoppi@qvcc.commnet.edu