SYLVIA CUP COMPETITION

INSPIRED BY ELVIS
The 49th annual competition used a surprise theme
influenced by the king of rock n roll
by

Fatima Oubaid Photos by Sarah Collier, Taken by Sarah Photography

Sylvia Cup contestants, judges, commentators and coordinators.

Derek Woodruff, AIFD, PFCI, CF, owner of Floral

Underground in Traverse City, Mich., won the Sylvia
Cup Design Competition that took place at the Society
of American Florists (SAF) 132nd Annual Convention in
Maui, Hawaii. Each contestant was given the same materials
and was required to incorporate the surprise Elvis theme in
each of three competition categories: Blue Suede Shoes,
Crying in the Chapel and Hawaiian Wedding Song.
The Sylvia Cup is the countrys longest-running live floral
design competition. Beginning in 1967, it was named after
Sylvia Valencia, who was a prominent designer and longtime SAF supporter.

Derek Woodruff, AIFD, PFCI, CF (left), with the highest combined score for
his three designs, was the grand-prize winner. Paul Latham, AIFD, creative/
director and co-owner of Fleur de Lis Events & Design in Louisville, Ky.
(center), was first runner-up. Second runner-up was Tricia Upshaw, AIFD,
AMF, Shirleys Flower Studio, Rogers, Ark. (right).

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the contestants
This year, 13 designers participated in the Sylvia Cup Competition.

n VanAnh Bui
Concepts by VB; Sunnyvale, Calif.

n Lakhena Mae Chhim

Angkorian Designs; Long Beach, Calif.

n BJ Dyer, AIFD, AAF, CPF

Bouquets; Denver, Colo.

n Gloria Gonzalez
A Secret Garden Florist; Ventura, Calif.

n Cory Ho, AIFD

Watanabe Floral; Honolulu, Hawaii

n Paul Latham, AIFD

Fleur de Lis Events & Design; Louisville, Ky.

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n Valerie Lee Ow
J. Miller Flowers & Gifts
Oakland, Calif.

n Misha Park
Frederick, Md.

n Paul Ponn, AIFD

Marys Flowers & Gifts; Florence, S.C.

n Sunya Schlea
Sunyas Flowers; Lahaina, Hawaii.

n Sandy Schroeck, AIFD, PFCI

Trend on Design; Eden Prairie, Minn.

n Tricia Upshaw, AIFD, AMF

Shirleys Flower Studio; Rogers, Ark.

the judges

the categories

Three floral evaluators certified by

the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD) and appointed by the
Professional Floral Communicators
International (PFCI) board of trustees
judged the competition. They were:

The three competition categories were:

n Blue Suede Shoes challenged designers to create a wearable shoe floral design.

n Tom Bowling, AIFD, PFCI

Syndicate Sales Inc.; Kokomo, Ind.

n Crying in the Chapel required contestants to create a sympathy tribute for an

Elvis impersonator.
n Hawaiian Wedding Song charged
designers with creating a wedding bouquet
fit for an Elvis fan.

n Tim Farrell, AIFD, AAF, PFCI

Farrells Florist; Drexel Hill, Pa.

n Derek Woodruff, AIFD, PFCI, CF

Floral Underground
Traverse City, Mich.

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n Sylvia Cup 2013 winner Joyce Mason

Monheim, AIFD, AAF, PFCI, AzMF
Designer Destination; Tucson, Ariz.

The next Sylvia Cup Design Competition

will take place Sept. 9 during SAF Palm Beach
2017, SAFs 133rd annual convention. n