On your mark, get set, throw! Once again, it’ll be a messy, fun, creative scene in Upton Hall as some 45 students and teachers from Western New York high schools compete in the annual Clay Olympics.

Hosted by the Buffalo State ceramics program and coordinated by Robert Wood, professor of design, the event features students, working individually and in teams, as competing in timed events using clay and various clay forming methods. The overall team point winner of all the competitions receives a trophy created by last year's winner.

This year’s contest involves students from four area high schools whose teachers are alumni of Buffalo State's ceramics and art education programs: Kenmore East (Matt Sagurney), Lancaster (Ann Perry-Smith), Lewiston-Porter Central (Brett Coppins), and Pioneer Central (Scott Losi). This year, Niagara Falls High School (Annette Baumgarden) also joins the competition.

The competition will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. in Upton Hall 128. A student awards presentation will be held from 1:15 to 1:30 p.m. in the Czurles-Nelson Gallery.  For more information, contact Robert Wood at (716) 878-4414.

This event is made possible by the support of the Sylvia L. Rosen Endowment of the Burchfield Penney Art Center at Buffalo State College, Lewiston-Porter Central High School, and the School of Arts and Humanities of Buffalo State.