PIAG Names SkillsUSA Georgia Winners

(Atlanta, Ga., March 18, 2010) – 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’s 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: Christina Hillman, Effingham High School, Springfield, Ga.; second place: Eriko Smith, Bradwell Institute, Hinesville, Ga.; and third place: Jason Cagle, Walton High School, Marietta, Ga.

Winners in the advertising design competition include: first place: Karina Scholtens, Central Education Center, Newnan, Ga.; second place: Yea Jee Bae, Dalton High School; and third place: Julia Tillery, Effingham High School, Springfield, Ga.

All students competed in a job interview and written skills assessment. The advertising design competitors were given three hours to compose a logo and packaging for a fictitious new lunchbox. 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. Video of the competition can be found at www.youtube.com/PIAGGeorgia.

“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 Bill Garvey, division manager at Athens Paper and chairman of the PIAG Educational Foundation, 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.”
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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.

Transportation for SkillsUSA

Congratulations to all the SkillsUSA regional winners in Georgia. We're excited to see you at the state competition!

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Each year, PIAG sponsors the Georgia statewide SkillsUSA competition for Advertising Design and Graphic Communications. We also sponsor a full day of training for contestants the day before the competition. Since our contest and training is held off site at Heidelberg USA in Kennesaw, PIAG also provides transportation for contestants. Below is an timeline for transportation to the 2010 Statewide SkillsUSA graphic communication and advertising design training day and competition.


Thursday, March 11 (Training Day)
9:00 am - Bus picks up from the Airport Marriott for transportation to Heidelberg
10:00 am - Program starts at Heidelberg
2:30 pm - Bus picks up ad design students at Heidelberg
3:15 pm - Expected arrival of ad design students at Airport Marriott
4:00 pm - Bus picks up graphic communications students at Heidelberg
5:00 pm - Expected arrival of graphic communications students at the Airport Marriott

Friday, March 12 (Competition)
8:30 am - Bus picks up from the Airport Marriott for transportation to Heidelberg
9:30 am - Competition begins at Heidelberg
3:30 pm - Bus picks up students at Heidelberg
4:30 pm - Expected arrival of students at the Airport Marriott