North American International Auto Show Announces 2010 Poster Contest Winners

TROY, Mich., Dec. 8, 2009 -- The North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) has announced the winners of its annual high school poster contest in conjunction with the upcoming 2010 show taking place at Cobo Center in Detroit, January 11-24. The grand prize, the Chairmen's Award of $1,000, was presented to Philip Hernandez, a 12th grade student at Monroe High School. The chairman of the 2010 NAIAS, Doug Fox of Ann Arbor Automotive in Ann Arbor, and Barron Meade, vice chairman, of Meade Group in Utica, selected the winning entry, which will be printed in the official NAIAS program.

Established to engage the creative minds of Michigan's future artists, the 22nd annual contest recognizes students from local art communities for their talents. The 2010 contest had a record-setting 82 high schools involved and 830 poster entries, all encompassing an automotive-related theme.

"We have a tough time every year based on the talent level involved," said Fox. "This reminds us the automotive industry is much larger than engineers and designers and engages high school students as 'car people' in the dynamic scope of NAIAS."

State Farm Insurance, presenting sponsor of Automotive Education Day at the 2010 NAIAS, also selected a poster that will be developed into t-shirts and given away at Automotive Education Day. The winning poster was designed by Rachel Ruhlman, a 12th grade student at Anchor Bay High School in Fair Haven, Michigan. State Farm Insurance will present Ruhlman with a $1,000 scholarship at Automotive Education Day on January 20, 2010.

Winners were also selected in the following categories and awarded cash prizes:

  Honorees who each received a $500 prize:
  --  Designer's Best of Show - Digital
      --  Nick Grosvenor, 10th grade, Grand Blanc High School, Grand Blanc
  --  Designer's Best of Show - Traditional
      --  Clara Reini, 12th grade, Lake Orion High School, Lake Orion
  --  10th Grade Award, 1st Place
      --  Bridget Werner, William D. Ford Career Technical Center, Westland
  --  11th Grade Award, 1st Place
      --  Garrett Currie, Oakland School Technical Campus SW, Wixom
  --  12th Grade Award, 1st Place
      --  R.J. Reichenbach, Oakland School Technical Campus SW, Wixom

  Honorees who each received a $250 prize:
  --  Most Creative Award
      --  Heather Snyder, 11th grade, Careerline Technical Center, Holland
  --  Best Use of Color Award
      --  Krysta Ziegler, 12th grade, William D. Ford Career Technical
          Center, Westland
  --  Best Theme Award
      --  Ryan Rodriquez, 10th grade, Royal Oak High School, Royal Oak
  --  10th Grade Award, 2nd Place
      --  Bryley DeFriez, Grand Blanc High School, Grand Blanc
  --  11th Grade Award, 2nd Place
      --  Kaela Wojtowicz, William D. Ford Technical Center, Westland
  --  12th Grade Award, 2nd Place
      --  Henry Mangelsdorf, Careerline Technical Center, Holland

  Honorees who each received a $100 prize:
  --  10th Grade Award, 3rd Place
      --  Falicia Gurnsey, Port Huron High School, Port Huron
  --  11th Grade Award, 3rd Place
      --  Brittany Hamilton, Oakland School Technical Campus SW, Wixom
  --  12th Grade Award, 3rd Place
      --  Chris Button, William D. Ford Career Technical Center, Westland

New for 2010, the NAIAS poster contest added the College for Creative Studies (CCS) Award, which offers the winner a free continuing education class at CCS and two tickets to the CCS student show. The winner for the inaugural year was R.J. Reichenbach (also the first place winner in the 12th grade category), from the Oakland School Technical Campus SW, in Wixom.

The poster entries were judged by an independent panel of recognized members from the local art community. All winning entries will be posted on the official NAIAS Web site, naias.com and will be on display during the public show days of the 2010 North American International Auto Show. The 22nd Annual High School Poster Contest was open to Michigan students in grades 10 through 12.

For more information, please contact Sandy Herp, Project Manager for the North American International Auto Show at: (248) 283-5183 or sherp@dada.org.

About the North American International Auto Show

Entering its 22nd year as an international event, the NAIAS is among the most prestigious auto shows in the world, providing unparalleled access to the automotive products, people and ideas that matter most - up close and in one place. One of the largest media events in North America, the NAIAS is the only auto show in the United States to earn an annual distinguished sanction of the Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles, the Paris-based alliance of automotive trade associations and manufacturers from around the world. The NAIAS Web site can be accessed at www.naias.com.

  Press Preview - Monday-Tuesday, January 11-12, 2010
  Industry Preview - Wednesday-Thursday, January 13-14, 2010
  Charity Preview - Friday, January 15, 2010
  Public Show - Saturday-Sunday, January 16-24, 2010