SkillsUSA
The PIAG Educational Foundation has partnered with the Georgia Department of Education (GDOE) and SkillsUSA Georgia to help develop and administer the SkillsUSA Georgia State Leadership and Skills Conference competitions for Ad Design, Graphic Communications, and Screen Printing. Beginning in 2025, PIAG and its members also assisted with four pre-submission design competitions: Brand Design, Promotional Poster, SkillsUSA Georgia Pin Design, and SkillsUSA Georgia T-Shirt Design.
Attracting and developing new and evolving talent for the print industry is a priority for the Foundation. We help to ensure that high school and technical college graphic arts programs are supported and that printing career resources are promoted to promising students. To help fulfill this commitment, the Foundation has teamed up with the GDOE and SkillsUSA to reach our next generation of employees.
What is SkillsUSA?
SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers, and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. A nonprofit national education association, SkillsUSA serves middle-school, high-school, and college/postsecondary students preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations.
SkillsUSA serves more than 333,527 students and instructors annually and has more than 17,489 classrooms conducting SkillsUSA training nationwide. There are 53 state and territorial associations. More than 19,019 instructors are professional members of SkillsUSA.
What is the State Leadership and Skills Conference?
The State Leadership and Skills Conference (SLSC) provides students the opportunity to put their technical skills to the test in various career competitions. Simultaneously, students sharpen their workplace and technical skills in leadership training, state officer elections, and more.
PIAG members host the Ad Design, Graphic Communications, and Screen Printing competitions at their facilities, providing students with direct access to industry equipment and professionals. Competitors must demonstrate their knowledge in their respective area through hands-on assessments and are judged by industry professionals.
Starting in 2023, the PIAG Educational Foundation agreed to award scholarships to offset registration fees and assist with travel expenses for students at the SkillsUSA national competition. Applicants are required to complete an application managed by SkillsUSA Georgia. National champions go on to compete in the WorldSkills International competition.
Past Winners
Advertising Design - High School
- Gold - Lilly Garrett, Ringgold High School
- Silver - Ximena Ruiz Landeros, Houston County High School
- Bronze - Za'Lan Helaire, Northside High School
Advertising Design - Postsecondary
- Gold - Jay Keller, Augusta Technical College
- Silver - Joshua Roberts, Augusta Technical College
- Bronze - Brecklyn Hancock, Augusta Technical College
Graphic Communications - High School
- Gold - Ollie Farmer, Flowery Branch High School
- Silver - Michelle Leal-Contreras, Maxwell High School of Tech
- Bronze - Melody Godlewski, Alliance Academy for Innovation
Screen Printing Technology - High School
- Gold – Kasie Moore, Stephens County High School
- Silver – Bayli Potgeter, Hiram High School
- Bronze – Tanner Miller, Flowery Branch High School
Brand Design – High School
- Gold - Agasti Nath, Buford High School
- Silver - Christian Lopez, Mitchell County Schools
- Bronze - Autumn Weathers, Evans High School
Promotional Poster – High School
- Gold - Arshad Ahamed Habibul Rahman, Lambert High School
- Silver - Gabe Baesa, Murray County High School
- Bronze - Sophia DiCristina, Decatur High School
Promotional Poster – Middle School
- Gold - Lucia Campos-Pacheco, Flat Rock Middle School
- Silver - Hannah Key, Fort Middle School
- Bronze - Su'mya Pierce, Newbern Middle School
SkillsUSA Georgia Pin Design – High School
- Gold - Matthew Hering, Jordan Vocational High School
- Silver - Kirnita Mcmillan, Kendrick High School
- Bronze - Terry Harrell, Kendrick High School
SkillsUSA Georgia Pin Design – Middle School
- Gold - Serenah Walker, Howard Middle School
- Silver - Antonia Baker, Howard Middle School
- Bronze - Hadassah Clark, Haymon-Morris Middle School
SkillsUSA Georgia T-Shirt Design – High School
- Gold – Melanie Alvarez, Southeast Whitfield High School
- Silver - Emmar Harnchotipun, Alliance Academy for Innovation
- Bronze - Alexandra Martinez, Charles R. Drew High School
SkillsUSA Georgia T-Shirt Design – Middle School
- Gold - Gavin Pugh, Haymon-Morris Middle School
- Silver - Marlaja Orr, Howard Middle School
- Bronze – Hannah Jordan, Howard Middle School
Advertising Design
- Gold - Sally Nicolich, Flowery Branch High School
- Silver - Guadalupe Diaz, Hiram High School
- Bronze - Tamaya Spence, LaGrange High School
Graphic Communications
- Gold - Jason Grant, Sandy Creek High School
- Silver - Jabari Morrison, Shiloh High School
- Bronze - Cooper Schmitt, North Atlanta High School
Screen Printing Technology
- Gold - Brian Stegall, Hiram High School
- Silver - Adriana Kirkland, Lanier County High School
- Bronze - Kasie Moore, Stephens County High School
Advertising Design - Postsecondary
- Gold - Nelicia Wingfield, Augusta Technical College
- Silver - Talyna Edgar, Augusta Technical College
- Bronze - Ryan Cosden, Augusta Technical College
Advertising Design
- Gold - Brayden Evans, North Carroll County and Career Academy
- Silver - Emily Brooks, Northside High School
- Bronze - Ayelet Flores, Flowery Branch High School
Graphic Communications
- Gold - Kai Kvamme, Flowery Branch High School
- Silver - Saira Hernandez, R W Johnson High School
- Bronze - Anna Kelley, Chestatee High School
Screen Printing Technology
- Gold - Faith Lewis, Hiram High School
- Silver - Adriana Kirkland, Lanier County High School
- Bronze - Tylayja Hills, Long County High School
Advertising Design
- 1st Place - Jaine Geckler, North Atlanta High School
- 2nd Place - Ella Lawler, Flowery Branch High School
- 3rd Place - Kathy Truong, Rome High School
Graphic Communications
- 1st Place - Avery Chalmers, Flowery Branch High School
- 2nd Place - Judson Bray, Rome High School
- 3rd Place - Jaelyn Balistreri, R W Johnson High School
Screen Printing
- 1st Place - Aria Warner, Hiram High School
- 2nd Place - Isabella Rachel, Harris County High School
- 3rd Place - Olivia Daniel, Clarke Central High School
Advertising Design
- 1st Place - Ella Grace Lawler, Flowery Branch High School
- 2nd Place - Eva Orbock, Clarke Central High School
- 3rd Place - Sophie Feis, Walton High School
Graphic Communications
- 1st Place - Olivia Daniel, Clarke Central High School
- 2nd Place - Charlie Rozza, Walton High School
- 3rd Place - Pedro Mata, RW Johnson High School
Screen Printing
- 1st Place - Caitlin Barbarossa, Hiram High School
- 2nd Place - Mahea Bingham, Walton High School
- 3rd Place - Zakierria Palmore, Troup County High School
Advertising Design
- 1st Place - John Hill, Flowery Branch High School
- 2nd Place - Arianna Simpson, Sandy Creek High School
- 3rd Place - Madalyn Bozeman, LaGrange High School
Graphic Communications
- 1st Place - Rosalyn Ngyuen, Walton High School
- 2nd Place - Jacon Hopwood , RW Johnson High School
- 3rd Place - Micah Allen, Harris County High School
Screen Printing Technology
- 1st Place - Nick Lobb, Walton High School
- 2nd Place - Jonathan Saylors, McEachern High School
- 3rd Place - Daniel Hamilton, Hiram High School
Graphic Communications
- 1st place – Rosalyn Nguyen, Walton High School
- 2nd place – Logan Dansby, North Atlanta High School
- 3rd place – Maggie Hamilton, Richmond Hill High School
Screen Print
- 1st place – Carson Thomas, Troup County High School
- 2nd place – Danny Vogal, Hiram High School
- 3rd place – Andrew Chappelle, Harris County High School
Ad Design
- 1st place – Hannah Ohlmeier, Sandy Creek High School
- 2nd place – Nolan Gilmore, W. S. Hutchings College + Career Center
- 3rd place – Brittney Williams, Lowndes High School
Graphic Communications
- 1st place – Thomas Ireson, Houston County High
- 2nd place – Jeickob Tinoco, Appalachee High
- 3rd place – Nicholas Gibbons, RW Johnson High
Screen Print
- 1st place – Jordan Hoeppel, Greenbrier High
- 2nd place – Carson Thames, Troup County Comp High
- 3rd place – Zachary Thomas, Stephens County High
Ad Design
- 1st place – James Siad, Walton High School
- 2nd place – Morgan Young, Dalton High
- 3rd place – Dominique Jones, Kendrick High
Graphic Communications
- 1st – Cody Brown (RW Johnson High)
- 2nd – Thomas Ireson (Houston County High)
- 3rd – Madison Hanna – (Liberty College and Career Academy)
Screen Print
- 1st – Lauren Arthur (Greenbrier High)
- 2nd – Cassidy Garon (Hiram High)
- 3rd – Ben Griffin (Walton High)
Ad Design
- 1st- Grace Chauta (Veterans High)
- 2nd – Bailey Baker (Richmond Hill High)
- 3rd – Zack Lowder (Grayson Technical High)
Graphic Communications
- 1st – Ezekiel Moore (Harris County HS)
- 2nd – Cody Brown (RW Johnson High School)
- 3rd- Daniel King – (Liberty College and Career Academy)
Screen Print
- 1st – Sarah Bauman (Walton HS)
- 2nd – Marcdrevious Flagg (Troup County HS)
- 3rd — Ishmail Harrison ( Hapeville Charter Career Academy)
Ad Design
- 1st- Kelli Cadena (Carroll College and Career academy)
- 2nd – Georgia Bronson (Dalton HS)
- 3rd – Kortney Spradlin- Troup Co HS
Graphic Communications
- 1st place – Ashley Purdue – Troup County Comprehensive HS, Lagrange GA
- 2nd place – Ezekiel Moore – Harris County High School, Hamilton GA
- 3rd place – Helen Smith – Sandy Creek High School, Tyrone GA
Screen Print
- 1st place – Sarah Baumann – Walton High School , Cobb Co
- 2nd place – Joseph Stargel – Hiram High School, Paulding Co
- 3rd place – Devin Goodman – Harris County High School , Hamilton, GA
Ad Design
- 1st place – Sydney Freeman – Maxwell High School Of Technology, Lawrenceville GA
- 2nd place – Abby Smith – Richmond Hill High School, Richmond Hill Ga
- 3rd place – Chidera Obinali – Sandy Creek High School, Tyrone GA