When Pacey Berken chose his final project in the FVTC Woodworking Technology program, he was thinking of his grandparents.
“My grandparents put me through the program, so I figured they should get a little return on their investment,” the 2022 graduate said. “I wanted to design a chair that would provide them with good back support and be easy to get in and out of.”
He ended up making four chairs total, as well as two matching side tables and winning national recognition.
His project, made from an exotic hardwood called African Sapele, caught the attention of his instructors, Glenn Koerner and Mark Lorge. They encouraged him to enter it in the 2023 Association of Woodworking & Furnishings Suppliers Fresh Wood student furniture competition, which took place in Las Vegas in conjunction with the AWFS Fair in July.
“I looked into it and heard, ‘They pay for your hotel, they pay for your shipping, they pay for your flight.’ Pretty much a free trip to Vegas. I was like, ‘What’s the catch here?’ So I signed up,” Berken said.
He was one of 142 students from the United States and Canada to apply. Just 40 applicants were selected to go to Las Vegas.
His chair won second place in his category.
The AWFS is the largest trade association in the United States, representing companies that supply the home and commercial furnishings industry.
“It’s a tough competition,” said Glenn. “The caliber of projects at this year’s competition was very impressive. Pacey did an exceptional job promoting FVTC and the Woodworking Technology program.”
The original idea for the chair began while Berken was a senior at Appleton North High School in the spring of 2020. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the shift to virtual classes, he never got the chance to build the Adirondack chair that would have been his final project in shop class. So when it was time to choose his final project for the FVTC Woodworking Technology program, he immediately thought of a chair.
Berken chose to study woodworking technology while he was taking general education classes at FVTC, originally intending to transfer to University of Wisconsin – Stout to become a tech ed teacher. He explains, “When I found out about the woodworking technology program here, I said, ‘Wow, I want to do that!’” and enrolled in the Oshkosh-based program.
He currently works at Woodcraft in Appleton, with side gigs like private tutoring, a tool-sharpening business, and interning with the Woodworking Technology program.
“I couldn’t say goodbye to that shop and to Mark and Glenn and everything that they do there. It is just a fantastic experience. I cannot say enough good things about the program,” he said.
