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What is Fresh Wood?

Fresh Wood is a student design & build competition, created and hosted by AWFS Fair since 1999. This competition brings together high school and post-secondary students from woodworking programs across North America to compete in several categories. Finalists’ pieces are on display at each AWFS Fair where industry professionals come in person to judge the winners.

Categories & Prizes

Categories for the 2025 Fresh Wood competition were:

  1. Seating
  2. Tables
  3. Case Goods
  4. Design for Production
  5. Open Category

High School and Post-Secondary students are generally judged separately except for the following in 2025:

  • Design for Production Category
  • People’s Choice Award
  • Best of Show Award

Cash Prizes are awarded as follows:

Honorable Mention

Second Place

First Place

People’s Choice

Best of Show
optional in all categories in each category in each category based on survey results from all those in attendance at AWFS Fair selected from 1st place winners of all categories

$250

$500

$1000

$750

$1000
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A BIG thank you to the 2025 Fresh Wood sponsor, KCD Software!

KCD Software generously gifted their software to several winners of the 2025 Fresh Wood competition in addition to their cash prizes awarded by AWFS.

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High School Winners

Tables – Honorable Mention
Junebug Brown
“Carved Side Table”
Decatur High School		 Tables – 2nd Place
Jackson Jensen
“The Clear Winner”
Corner Canyon High School
Tables – 1st Place
Jacob Hamblin
“Grain & Goal Foosball Table”
Corner Canyon High School		 Case Goods – 2nd Place
Damian Sanchez
“Hope”
Oceanside High School
Case Goods – 1st Place
Gavin Richards
“Whiskey Cabinet”
Fremont Public High School		 Open Category – Honorable Mention
Brock Sorenson
“Daybreak”
Corner Canyon High School
Open Category – 2nd Place
Porter Avery
“Maple Harbor”
Tooele High School		 Open Category – 1st Place
Ashton Anderson
“Violin”
Mustang High School

Post-Secondary Winners

Tables – 2nd Place
Sarah Kane
“Coffee Table”
Vermont Woodworking School		 Tables – 1st Place
Wesley Terrell
“Side Table”
Center for Furniture Craftsmanship
Seating – 2nd Place
Dustin Grant
“The Mentor’s Chair”
Utah Valley University		 Seating – 1st Place
Matthew McDermott
“Stools”
Center for Furniture Craftsmanship
Case Goods – 2nd Place
Audrey Kasinger
“Artist’s Cabinet”
Center for Furniture Craftsmanship		 Case Goods – 1st Place
Eliot Childress
“The Next Chapter”
Center for Furniture Craftsmanship
Open Category – 2nd Place
Audrey Kasinger
“Modern Wardrobe”
Center for Furniture Craftsmanship		 Open Category – 1st Place
Eliot Childress
“Dozukuri”
Center for Furniture Craftsmanship

Overall Winners

Design for Production – Honorable Mention
Tyler Harris
“Crossroads Coffee Table”
Lincoln East High School		 Design for Production – 2nd Place
Aidan Layng
“Plant Pot Holder”
Center for Furniture Craftsmanship
Design for Production – 1st Place
Ky Frederick
“Tension & Flow”
Lincoln East High School		    

 

People’s Choice
Dustin Grant
“The Mentor’s Chair”
Utah Valley University
Best of Show
Eliot Childress
“The Next Chapter”
Center for Furniture Craftsmanship
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2025 Fresh Wood Committee Members

Ben Angerer
Ben Angerer has been deeply involved in woodworking since the age of 16. He completed Germany’s prestigious guild training program and holds a master’s degree in woodworking. With experience working at Festool, Ben now serves as an education and industry representative project manager at Shaper Tools. His passion for woodworking shines through in his efforts to promote the craft and inspire future generations of woodworkers.
Alan Harp
For over 30 years, Alan has worked in furniture design and product development and holds a MS Industrial Design from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Before starting Alan Harp Design in 2010, he was part of a team designing and building custom furniture and products for people with physical disabilities at the Center for Assistive Technology and Environmental Access. He taught furniture design at Georgia Tech and was involved in a variety of research projects related to CNC manufacturing and product design.
Mei-yen Shipek
Mei-yen Shipek brings extensive experience in furniture design and woodworking. She has taught at Berkeley and worked at Autodesk, where she honed her skills in design technology. Currently, she works as a consultant specializing in workplace design, communication, and storytelling. Mei-Yen’s expertise and passion for design are complemented by her prior involvement as a judge for the Fresh Wood student competition, making her a valuable addition to the 2025 committee.
Lois Snyder
Lois Snyder is the CEO of Periwinklers, an architectural millwork company specializing in restaurants and located in Tarpon Springs Florida. She has spent a lifetime as a craftsman and cabinet maker. Lois founded Periwinklers with her husband, Matthew Searle, who is a minority owner. Lois holds a BFA in Woodworking from State University of New York, college at New Paltz. Upon graduation she moved to Brooklyn New York, and founded Benedek/Snyder Designs, specializing in residential and commercial cabinetry. As a craftsperson and small business owner Lois works closely with designers and architects to help them achieve their intentions. She is hands-on with a broad set of skills, including design, CAD, CNC programming, production, finishing, and installations.

Thanks to our Fresh Wood judges for 2025!

Meg Mitchell

Everlong Creative

Saúl Martín

Architectural Woodwork Institute (AWI)

Logan Newman

Newman Specials Woodwork

Taryn Schwartz

Ballard Designs

Corey Tighe

CT Woodwork

Dan Velázquez

J Joiners
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Click the image to purchase the latest edition of the Fresh Wood Book

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