Clark's Kumpf Students Scoop Up Success in 'It's Delicious' Marketing Design Challenge

The students at Carl H. Kumpf Middle School recently got a real-world lesson in what it takes to be a designer—and some of them did more than just learn. They won.

Multimedia teacher Cristin Sedelmaier organized a digital design challenge that brought together the entire school's student designers to compete for a genuine prize. The challenge was sponsored by It's Delicious Ice Cream, a local favorite in Clark. Owner John Samsel provided students with an authentic creative brief—the kind professionals receive in real design jobs.

The mission was to create a captivating digital flyer to promote It's Delicious' upcoming 3rd birthday celebration, scheduled for October 3, 2026. But this was not just an exercise. Samsel gave students real parameters: the event details, the time, the location, and specific features they had to include—a food truck, face painting, and opportunities for young entrepreneurs.

Union County Life celebrates the moments when school and community connect, when students see their learning applied to real problems. This competition was exactly that. Students had to balance eye-catching design with clear information delivery, a skill that matters in modern digital media and in business.

Two students stood out.

First place went to Kaja Hajduk, whose vibrant and professional layout captured the judges' attention. Her reward was the ultimate prize for a young designer in Clark: an ice cream truck party sponsored by It's Delicious for her and 75 of her friends and family. Second place went to Alyssa Fritz, whose highly creative design earned her 10 free ice cream cups.

"Seeing the excitement, creativity, and technical skill these students brought to the table was incredible," Sedelmaier said. "They took real-world guidelines and turned them into fantastic designs."

John Samsel was equally impressed. He saw not just young talent, but the beginning of a partnership that will serve his business well as It's Delicious approaches its milestone celebration in October.

"This was a perfect way to gear up for the shop's three-year milestone," Samsel noted.

Thanks to the design work of Kumpf's multimedia students, the Clark community is ready to celebrate It's Delicious' birthday on October 3rd. And Kaja Hajduk and Alyssa Fritz learned something that no classroom alone could teach: when you do good work, people notice.

Union County Life covers student achievement, school partnerships, and community connections across Clark and all Union County municipalities.

FAQ

Q: What was the Kumpf Middle School design challenge?
A: Students at Carl H. Kumpf Middle School competed in a digital design challenge organized by multimedia teacher Cristin Sedelmaier. The challenge was sponsored by It's Delicious Ice Cream, a local business. Students had to create a marketing flyer for the ice cream shop's upcoming 3rd birthday celebration, using real-world design guidelines provided by the business owner.

Q: Who won the design challenge?
A: First place went to Kaja Hajduk for her vibrant and professional flyer design. Second place went to Alyssa Fritz for her highly creative design.

Q: What were the prizes?
A: Kaja Hajduk won an ice cream truck party sponsored by It's Delicious for herself and 75 guests. Alyssa Fritz won 10 free ice cream cups.

Q: When is It's Delicious Ice Cream's birthday celebration?
A: It's Delicious Ice Cream is celebrating its 3rd birthday on October 3, 2026. The celebration will feature a food truck, face painting, and opportunities for young entrepreneurs.

Q: What is It's Delicious Ice Cream?
A: It's Delicious Ice Cream is a local ice cream shop in Clark. The shop is celebrating its 3rd year in business in 2026.

Q: Why did It's Delicious partner with Kumpf Middle School?
A: Owner John Samsel wanted to create an authentic marketing challenge for students while developing promotional materials for the shop's 3rd birthday celebration. The partnership gave students real-world experience in digital design while providing the business with creative content.

Q: Where can I find more information about Kumpf Middle School and Clark schools?
A: Union County Life covers education, student achievements, and school partnerships across Clark and all Union County municipalities. Subscribe to stay informed about student programs and community connections.