PrintingNews.com

The Printing and Imaging Association of Georgia (PIAG) announced today the winners in the Georgia SkillsUSA graphic communications and advertising design competitions held at the Print Media Demonstration Center at Heidelberg USA 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 totally $4,500.

Winners in the graphic communications competition include: first place: Alyssa Ailion, a senior at Walton High School in Marietta, Ga.; second place: Victoria Gunnin, a senior at Sandy Creek High School in Tyrone, Ga.; and third place: Bryan Shipes, a junior at Appling County High School in Baxley, Ga.

Winners in the advertising design competition include: first place: Kyle Colburn, a senior at Sandy Creek High School in Tyrone, Ga.; second place: Yea Jee Bae, a freshman at Dalton High School; and third place: Quinn Hicks, a senior at North Clayton High School in College Park, Ga.

The advertising design competitors were given three hours to compose an advertisement for Oreo cookies. 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.

“Congratulations to the winners! We were happy to have hosted this year’s state competition,” said Larry Kroll, vice president, PMA, Heidelberg USA. “Heidelberg is committed to industry education through our Print Media Academy. We strongly believe that a lack of educational and training opportunities should never be the excuse why a student does not choose the graphic arts industry. It is great to see these students show such a strong interest in a career at an early age. It’s my hope that they continue down this path.”