Cole said - "Wow! Thanks for all of the votes! I'm really proud of this pen and winning!"
Josh said - "Yeah! I placed! I didn't think I would. Thanks!
My comments - Thanks to the IAP for supporting and offering these contests for the kids! Its great time to spend with the kids. As well, and important to me, it gives them a positive experience with tools, equipment and woodworking - skills that they will use the rest of their lives. My daughter (who has competed in these in the past, but couldn't this year due to school work) was at a service event with about 30 of her classmates last fall. They were digging up plants and redoing some landscaping at a city park. She was the ONLY one who knew how to use a shovel. Really! Yes, these girls (its an all girls school) had never dug holes with a shovel! And thanks, in part, to pen making and the IAP my 15 year old daughter is comfortable using a drill, drill press, lathe, saws, etc. So, thanks for putting on these contests!! I know that doesn't have to do with a shovel - but still being able to use tools is a wonderful skill.
Next, for Cole (13 year-old), really proud of him (win or lose, still really proud of him). Back in early January I asked him if he wanted to participate and he said that he did. Then I asked him if he really wanted to try to win, and he said he did. I told him that the thing to do to increase the chance of winning would be to make a segmented pen. He asked what that was, and I pulled up the "only post segmented pens" thread and we looked at a bunch of pens and explained how some of them were made. I explained how he would have to use the table saw to cut the pieces, he said that was fine as long as I was there (which of course I was going to be there). A couple weeks ago when it was time to start the pen I asked him if he was ready, he said he was, so I handed him a can of pop and told him he needed to drink it (we don't drink pop much in our household) - and his eyes lit up, but then asked me why? Of course, it was to get the metal from the can for the segments. Anyway, the whole process of the pen was fun to watch him do. I taught him how to set up a jig to cut the wood on the table saw, and all sorts of stuff. Also had a couple of oops moments we had to recover from. Anyway, it was a great time and with some life long learning happening.
All 3 of my kids have their pen collections and bring them out when they need to sign something or write something.
For the other contestants - these are all really great pens! And Cole is aging out next year - so you don't have to worry about him making some fancy smanshy pen next year - unless you are 14!
Dave