Herndon, Va.; October 26, 2022 – Four students emerged champions today as winners of the 2022 Amazing Packaging Race on the PACK EXPO International show floor. Coordinated by show producer PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, and sponsored by Emerson, the race brought together 25 teams from schools across the U.S. to complete a series of challenges spanning over 1.2 million net-square-feet of exhibit space.
Team two consisting of Gabby Brophy – Virginia Tech, Karinne Ehni – Michigan State University, Noah Hernandez – Virginia Tech, and Greyson Hammer – University of Wisconsin-Stout overtook the competition with their quick-witted social media skills and show floor strategy, reaching the most exhibitors and completing assigned tasks faster than their opponents. Each of the winning students took home $1,000 in prize money.
Team thirteen players Mackenzie Beane – Toronto Metropolitan University, Emilia Hansen – Becker High School, Shak Kataev – Virginia Tech, and Andrea Cacovic - Rochester Institute of Technology took second place.
“The Amazing Packaging Race is always such a fun and rewarding experience – both students and exhibitors look forward to it each year,” says Kate Fiorianti, director, workforce development, PMMI. “This year’s competition was our largest to date. This goes to show the growing interest from the future workforce in obtaining careers within the packaging and processing industry.”
Competing students represented 13 schools across the country, including:
Becker High School
California Polytechnic State University
Clemson University
Legacy Christian Academy
Michigan State University
Northern Illinois University
Northwood Technical College
Rochester Institute of Technology
Rutgers University
San Jose State University
Toronto Metropolitan University
University of Wisconsin-Stout
Virginia Tech
Participating exhibitors included:
Allen Field Company, Inc.
B&R Industrial Automation Corp.
Baumer hhs
Beckhoff Automation LLC
Belden
BW Packaging Systems
Daubert Cromwell
Dorner
Duravant
Econocorp, Inc.
Fallas Automation, Inc.
Fox IV Technologies, Inc.
Frazier & Son
Freshlock
IoPP (Institute of Packaging Professionals)
ITW Hartness
Lenze Americas
Linmot USA, Inc.
Morrison Container Handling Solutions
OMAC
Pacteon Group
Paper Machinery Corporation
Polypack, Inc.
SICK, Inc.
Siemens Digital Industries
Starview Packaging Machinery, Inc.
WLS (Weiler Labeling Systems)