DAYTON, Ohio-- March 10, 2008--In recognition of contributions made toward the education of local elementary and secondary students, David Clapper, director of Facilities Management and Security at Standard Register, was named a 2008 Ohio Friend of Education. Presented by the Ohio Chapter of the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA/Ohio), the recognition took place during the group's annual conference and awards luncheon, March 7, in Columbus, Ohio.

Clapper was nominated for his work at Dayton's Patterson-Kennedy School. For the past 10 years, he has spearheaded the partnership between Patterson-Kennedy and Standard Register and has become a fixture at the school, serving on the management educational team that works on budgeting and teacher recruitment. Through his efforts and companywide support, Standard Register employees regularly volunteer at the school for a myriad of projects, including the annual holiday Gift Tree and Dr. Seuss Read Across America Day.

Also a participant in the Dayton Public School District's "Principal for a Day" program, Clapper has facilitated corporate sponsorship for several Patterson-Kennedy programs, including field trips, the Young Inventors program and winter clothing donations. Clapper and Standard Register also played key rolls in this academic year's Dayton School Box Program, where each Dayton Public School student, grades kindergarten through eighth, received a school box containing their annual school supplies. The program was kicked off in September 2007 at Patterson-Kennedy.

"America's schools remain the chief vehicle for turning the dreams of our nation's students into realities. Locally, Standard Register and Dave Clapper have been helping to make future dreams come true for more than 8,860 young people during the past 10 years," said Nolan Graham, retired principal of Patterson-Kennedy, 1992-2007. "The company has made significant investments in the Dayton Public Schools district. I am proud of these accomplishments and believe that with Dave and Standard Register, collaboration will continue to help Patterson-Kennedy and Dayton Public Schools in our mission of guaranteeing a quality education for every student, every day."

NSPRA/Ohio is a statewide school public relations association committed to bringing its members the critical information and training they need to enhance their professional lives. Its Friend of Education Award recognizes individuals who have made a significant contribution to elementary or secondary education in Ohio. The group emphasizes that school public relations is not a one-person or one-department job--good communication about schools involves everybody. This is why NSPRA/Ohio annually sponsors the Friend of Education Award to recognize those unofficial members of the school public relations team.

According to Kathryn Lamme, senior vice president, general counsel and secretary, Standard Register, "Dave has set the standard across our company for community activism and support of educational causes. His goodwill toward Patterson-Kennedy School has inspired many of Standard Register's Dayton-based associates to become actively involved with the school and in the community.

"And though our support of Patterson-Kennedy is companywide, it all comes back to Dave's leadership with the project," she added.

Standard Register has been active in giving back to the communities in which it serves, through charitable contributions, volunteer involvement and other giving programs, since its inception in 1912. Today, the company's Community Contributions Council actively supports and focuses on several children's causes, with 98 percent of donations going directly to youth services and educational programs. In addition, the Sherman Standard Register Foundation participates in these and other causes on behalf of the company's founding family.