Contact: Sue Rodman
SkillsUSA Director
Printing & Imaging Association of Georgia
Phone: 404.784.5650
suer@piag.org | www.piag.org

PIAG Names SkillsUSA Georgia Graphic Communications Winners

(Atlanta, Ga., April 18, 2009) -- The Printing & Imaging Association of Georgia (PIAG) has announced the winners in the Georgia SkillsUSA graphic communications and advertising design competitions held at Heidelberg USA's Print Media Demonstration Center in Kennesaw, Ga. Through a grant from PIAG Educational Foundation the first place contestants and their advisors will travel to Kansas City in June to compete in the national SkillsUSA competition. In addition, the Foundation awarded scholarships to the winners totaling $4,500.

Winners in the graphic communications competition include: first place: Bryan Shipes, Appling County High School in Baxley, Ga.; second place: Cody Trapp, Central Education Center in Newnan, Ga.; and third place: Paige Barton, Floyd County Schools College & Career Academy in Rome, Ga.

Winners in the advertising design competition include: first place: Yea Jee Bae, Dalton High School; second place: Anna Killmeier, Central Education Center in Newnan, Ga.; and third place: Kristen Stevens, Sandy Creek High School in Tyrone, Ga.

All students competed in a job interview. The advertising design competitors were given three hours to compose an advertisement for Cover Girl lipstick. AIGA, the professional design association, judged the entries. The graphic communications category consisted of five competencies: pre-press work, offset press, finishing, a written exam and job interview. Winners received above average scores in all five categories.

"Heidelberg USA is honored to once again host the Georgia SkillsUSA graphic communications and advertising design competitions," said Susan Nofi, senior vice president, Human Resources at Heidelberg USA. "The level of talent exhibited during this competition is truly astonishing. It's great to see these high school students demonstrate such a strong interest in a graphic arts career. I certainly hope they pursue their career goals into their higher education and the workforce."

"Finding and keeping skilled management, production, technical and sales employees is a major issue facing printers today," said David Canady, president Imedia Group and chairman of the PIAG Educational Foundation's SkillsUSA committee, sponsors of the contest. "Participation in SkillsUSA is a win for everyone. Students get valuable job training and industry ensures a skilled pipeline of future talent."

About SkillsUSA SkillsUSA (www.skillsusa.org) is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled work force. The organization serves more than 280,000 students and instructors annually and has 13,000 school chapters in 54 state and territorial associations. More than 14,500 instructors and administrators are professional members of SkillsUSA.

About The Printing & Imaging Association Educational Foundation
The PIAG Educational Foundation (www.piag.org/education) is a nonprofit corporation established in 1985 as the educational and charitable arm of the Printing & Imaging Association of Georgia. The Foundation provides educational opportunities to industry professionals, career awareness programs for students and instructors and scholarship opportunities. The Foundation also promotes the printing and imaging profession within the state to future industry leaders and potential customers.