WESTPEX 2009

Stamp Show

Youth Champion of Champion Awards donated by WESTPEX

Youth Champion of Champions - the best youth exhibit shown in North America in 2005-2006. Donated by WESTPEX. Presented to Kurt Glatzfelder (18), Quebec, Canada, for "The Vostok Program" (representing Royal*2005*Royale).

Kurt H. Glatzfelder

Winner of ROYAL*2005*ROYALE

I was born on July 17, 1986, in Montreal, Canada. My father is from Switzerland and my mother is from India. I speak English, French and German. I recently graduated from John Abbott College in the program Computer Science and completed a second degree in Natural Sciences. I continue my studies at McGill University in Software Engineering in Fall. Some of my other hobbies are chess, computer, bicycling, web design, skiing, squash and watching cartoons on TV.

I started collecting stamps at the age of seven. First I collected Canada and then I began my collection of transportation: trains, planes, automobiles, space and chess.

In February 1997, my father and I joined the Lakeshore Stamp Club. At the beginning of the 98-99 season, I was encouraged by a few exhibitors to exhibit at the annual club show. I decided space exploration would be the most interesting topic. I started doing a lot of research regarding space and began corresponding with NASA and the Latvian Space Museum in Riga.

Lakeshore 1999 was my first stamp exhibition my exhibit "Space Exploration". At Quoffilex'2000, I received a vermeil medal and I won the Bruno Valois Trophy, the highest junior trophy in Quebec. Royale*2001*Royal was one of my most memorable exhibitions being my first national exhibition where I won my first AAPE Youth Grand Award. In June 2001, I participated at my first of six North American Youth Stamp Exhibiting Championships in Mesa, Arizona.

WESTPEX Write-up Award – Presented to Sabrina McGill, Indiana, for "Zoofari" (representing INDYPEX).

WESTPEX Flora and Fauna Award – Presented to Maria Hoffman (11), Pennsylvania, for "Birds on Stamps - The Struggle for Survival" (representing BALPEX).

Maria Hoffman

Birds on Stamps – The Story of Survival

BALPEX 2005

My name is Maria Hoffman. I am 11 years old, have been homeschooled my entire life. I have many hobbies - some of them are chess, gymnastics, soccer, and playing the classical guitar.

I started stamp collecting at a young age. Since then I have become very interested in stamps. I collect animals and birds on stamps. My exhibit is on birds and has been to the Youth Champion of Champions before and just exhibited in the Washington 2006 International Stamp Show. I will show my exhibit at Brussels, Belgium this fall.

I really enjoy going to stamp shows to look for covers and stamps. My collection is now quite large. Enjoy my exhibit!

WESTPEX Award of Excellence – Presented to Kurt Glatzfelder(18), Quebec, for "The Vostok Program"