Make a Difference, a new bonus category, invites students to submit designs that impact individuals, communities or the environment in a positive way

Minneapolis & Rehovot, Israel – Sept. 2, 2015 -  Stratasys Ltd. (Nasdaq:SSYS), a leading global provider of 3D printing and additive manufacturing solutions, is now accepting entries for the 12^th annual  Extreme Redesign 3D Printing Challenge.

Open to students worldwide, this annual 3D printing challenge invites students in engineering, design and art or architecture to design a new product that improves how a task is accomplished or to redesign an existing product. Entries should be mechanically sound, realistic and achievable, and are judged based on:

• Sound mechanical design
• Compelling description (written and/or video)
• Design creativity
• Product usefulness
• Aesthetics (art and architecture category)

Individual students or two-person teams are required to create designs using 3D CAD software and to submit their files in .STL format to Stratasys  online, along with a written description and/or a 30-second video explaining the value and benefit of the Extreme Redesign model. The deadline to submit entries isFeb. 4, 2016. Categories include:

• Engineering: Secondary Education (middle and high school)
• Engineering: Post-Secondary (university, college or post-secondary)
• Art or architecture (any grade level)

First-place winners in every main category will receive $2,500 (US dollars) scholarships, and the instructor of the first-place students will receive a demo 3D printer for a limited time to use in the classroom. Second place winners will receive $1,000 (US dollars) scholarships. The top 10 entries in each category will receive a Stratasys apparel item (value up to $50) and regional semi-finalists will receive a 3D printed model of their design. Each person who enters will receive an official Extreme Redesign T-shirt. During the past 12 years, Stratasys has awarded more than $130,000 in scholarships.

New this year, Extreme Redesign is adding the bonus category, “Make a Difference,” which allows students to create or redesign a product that impacts individuals, communities or the environment in a positive way. The winner of this category will receive a $1,500 scholarship. In addition, the  National Coalition of Advanced Technology Centers (NCATC) is awarding a $1,000 scholarship to an entry of their choice from a NCATC member school in the post-secondary engineering category. NCATC is a network of higher education resources that promotes the use of technology applications to enhance economic and workforce development programs and services.

For more information about Extreme Redesign 3D Printing Challenge and contest rules, visit the  Extreme Redesign page on Stratasys’ website. Plus, follow the Extreme Redesign 3D Printing Challenge on Facebook and be part of the conversation on  Twitter using #ExtremeRedesign.

Stratasys Ltd. (Nasdaq:SSYS), headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Rehovot, Israel, is a leading global provider of 3D printing and additive manufacturing solutions. The company's patented FDM^® and PolyJet™3D Printing technologies produce prototypes and manufactured goods directly from 3D CAD files or other 3D content. Systems include 3D printers for idea development, prototyping and direct digital manufacturing. Stratasys subsidiaries include MakerBot and Solidscape, and the company operates the digital parts manufacturing service, Stratasys Direct Manufacturing. Stratasys has more than 3,000 employees, holds over 800 granted or pending additive manufacturing patents globally, and has received more than 30 awards for its technology and leadership. Online at:  www.stratasys.com or http://blog.stratasys.com

Stratasys is a registered trademark of Stratasys Ltd. and/or its subsidiaries or affiliates.

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