ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA (July 22, 2002) – The Printing Industries of America Incorporated (PIA), recognized 1,415 out of a total of 4,889 entries in the 52nd annual Premier Print Awards (PPA) in which top honorees received the coveted "Benny" statue. Entries came from graphic arts firms in 15 countries and 94 received the highest honor, the Best of Category distinction. Other titles conferred on entries were 33 Best of Division, 227 Award of Recognition, and 1,061 Certificate of Merit awards. Those receiving the highest Best of Category award received the coveted "Benny" award. Williamson Printing Corporation of Dallas, Texas, had the highest number of winning entries with 65. Because of the number of winning entries, Williamson received the Sponsors Gold Award for Overall Achievement. The firm captured five Best of Category awards. The firm with the second highest number of winning entries was Metropolitan Fine Printers Inc., Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, which had 53. Metropolitan earned the Sponsors Silver Award for Overall Achievement and collected six Best of Category awards. Claiming the Sponsors Bronze Award for Overall Achievement was Peake Printers, Incorporated, Cheverly, Maryland. Peake had 44 winning entries. A team of judges in this year’s competition met in June to review the thousands of entries, which were evaluated on the quality of printing including the even application of color, clarity of separations, registration, and the degree of difficulty in producing the piece. Entries were also evaluated on their overall look and specific design elements that make it an effective and graphically appealing piece. The Premier Print Awards are open to both PIA members and non-members, printers and organizations engaged in producing print communications. Presidents and owners, sales and marketing executives, designers and creative directors are able to enter. Benefits of being recognized a PPA prize winner include: * Increased name recognition within the industry and potential clients; * Widespread exposure in the Awards Annual mailed to 70,000 readers of Graphic Arts Monthly; * News releases regarding your award mailed to your local press outlets; * PIA self-promotion kit to help you alert your clients of your award; * Certificate of honor or plaque commemorating your award. Other companies and the number of entries receiving recognition include the following: Offset Multicolor SA de CV, Mexico City, Mexico, 42; Lithographix, Incorporated, Los Angeles, 32; Hemlock Printers, Limited, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, 31; Anderson Lithograph, Los Angeles, California, 22; HM Graphics, West Allis, Wisconsin,22; Hennegan Company, Florence, Kentucky, 19; Anderson Printing, Hollywood, California, 16; C & C Offset Printing Company, Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong, 16; Finlay Brothers Printing, Inc., Bloomfield, Connecticut, 16; Precision Litho, Salt Lake city, Utah, 16; Case-Hoyt Corporation., Rochester, New York, 15; W.E. Andrews Company, Beford, MA, 14; Graphic Arts Center/Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana, 13; The following companies are sponsors of the 2002 Premier Print Awards: Heidelberg, Kodak Polychrome Graphics, Sun Chemical and Utica National Insurance Group For a complete list of 2002 PPA winners, contact PIA.