ShetkaStone Challenges MCAD Design Students to Build a Sustainable Future

Minnesota-based maker of recycled surfaces establishes scholarship contest to encourage and promote green design

Le Center, MN—ShetkaStone, a Minnesota-based company that makes beautiful, eco-friendly tabletops, countertops, office furniture, moldings, tiles, vanities, and other products out of recycled paper, has established a scholarship contest for college students interested in the field of green product design.

The ShetkaStone Challenge, now in its first year, encourages students to use ShetkaStone recycled surfaces to create sustainable furniture, sculpture, and lifestyle products. This year’s challenge has been extended to students attending the Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD).

Students participating in the ShetkaStone Challenge will begin the design process by creating drawings of their ideas and submitting them to Professor Dean Wilson. After the ideas are approved, students will use ShetkaStone and other materials to build finished prototypes of their designs. The panel of judges will consist of Prof. Dean Wilson, Professor, Furniture Design MCAD, Tom Dupont, Principal, Kazoo Branding, ShetkaStone’s marketing agency, Chuck Geerdes, President, North Star Surfaces and Brad Hokanson, Professor Graphic Design, University of Minnesota.

Exhibiting at the NeoCon Trade Show, Chicago

The top three participants will be awarded cash scholarships in recognition of their design achievements. In addition, the top winners will have their work on view in the ShetkaStone booth at this year’s NeoCon Trade Show, to be held June 13-15 at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago. The winner will also receive an all-expense paid trip to NeoCon to see their work displayed alongside products from the world’s top furniture and lifestyle designers.

“This is more than just an art project,” said ShetkaStone president Phil Wijmer. “ShetkaStone is committed to building a green future, and one of the best ways to do that is to challenge students to use green materials to create products that are creative, attractive, and commercially viable. With the ShetkaStone Challenge, we’re helping create an environment in which tomorrow’s designers will be able to produce beautiful, sustainable work.”

About ShetkaStone
ShetkaStone takes paper out of the waste stream and recycles it into beautiful, sustainable tabletops, countertops, moldings, tiles, vanities, office furniture, and more. For further information, visit www.shetkastone.com.