Pittsburgh, PA, June 3, 2008--Printing Industries of America/Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (PIA/GATF) and its Ben Franklin Society are seeking to honor an outstanding school program in the graphic communications industry. Nominations for the Frederick D. Kagy Education Award of Excellence are due July 11, 2008.

The Kagy Award, first presented in 1993, was established to recognize a superior graphic communications program at the junior high, high school, or community college level. It honors the distinguished career of Frederick D. Kagy, Professor Emeritus of the College of Applied Science and Technology, Department of Industrial Technology, Illinois State University. The winning school can select up to $1,000 worth of textbooks published by PIA/GATFPress.

Nominated institutions must demonstrate strong instructional leadership, a high degree of professionalism, innovative techniques, and promotion of the industry. To be eligible, the institution must be staffed or directed by a PIA/GATF teacher member. Annual teacher memberships can be purchased for $49.

A committee of independent judges will review nominations and select a recipient for the Kagy Award. This year’s award will be presented to a program representative from the winning school at PIA/GATF’s Fall Administrative Meetings, November 12–16, 2008 in Las Vegas, NV. This forum hosts an impressive audience of industry leaders, including boards of directors and committee members from PIA/GATF, the PIA/GATF Ben Franklin Society, and the Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation (PGSF).

For more information, contact Deena Hower, PIA/GATF Marketing Coordinator, at 412-259-1702 or [email protected]. Written requests can be directed to Deena Hower, 200 Deer Run Road, Sewickley, PA 15143-2600.