Regis J. Delmontagne, President of NPES The Association for Suppliers of Printing, Publishing and Converting Technologies, recently became only the second foreign leader to receive an honorary doctorate from the historic Moscow State University of the Printing Arts.             The presentation was made in the university’s main auditorium before an audience of several hundred faculty,  students and invited guests.       University Rector Alexander Tsyganenko said the award to Delmontagne was merited by “the support he has given to the Russian printing industry and the University’s programs.” Tsyganenko specifically cited the recent initiative at the NPES American Technology Print Center in Moscow to produce graphic communications textbooks for donation to the university’s printing programs.         This program “is greatly appreciated by the University and students,” Tsyganenko said.  Through the book project, the NPES Center donates 500 copies of each new book it prints. The Center is producing a series of industry texts and other books developed by Rochester Institute of Technology, the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation, and other organizations.      The honorary doctorate is the latest reflection of the ever-stronger trade relationship between NPES and Russia, as well as the other nations of the former Soviet Union. Delmontagne, in accepting the award, noted that he first visited Moscow in 1987 and that NPES has given high priority to building relationships in Russia and Eurasia.  The American Technology Print Center was launched in Moscow in 2003 to serve the needs of Russian and East European printers for training, service, replacement parts and product information from U.S. manufacturers. Most recently, NPES has announced plans to offer online university-level courses from RIT through the Center.  This new offering is part of an NPES effort to facilitate closer linkage between the Russian printing industry and leading U.S. academic and research institutions.             “It is particularly gratifying to receive this recognition from an institution whose graduates include virtually all of the most prominent and influential leaders of the graphic communications industry throughout the region,” he said. In addition to the doctorate, Delmontagne was appointed to the university’s industry advisory committee.