Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - Printing Industries of America is proud to present the 2010 Frederick D. Kagy Education Award of Excellence to Royal Oak High School for their success in implementing and maintaining a thriving graphic communications program.

The Royal Oak High School (ROHS) Graphic Communications and Visual Imaging Technology program was started in 2000 at the request of the Royal Oak School Board and high school principal. At that time, the industrial arts and the career and technical education programs at the high school attracted only ten to fifteen students per class period. Once the graphics program was added, there were 90 students enrolled by the third week. Mike Stinnett, full-time program instructor from 2000 to 2010, was joined by another full-time instructor, Kariann Orth, three years into the program because of its success. The program has currently reached its peak with an enrollment of 215 students within 15 sections taught by three full-time instructors. Throughout the years the program has captured the interest of a large cross-section of the student population, including honor students, valedictorians, national merit finalists, National Honor Society members, and class officers.

Equipment wise, they began the program with only 20 Apple computers, one laser printer, two small color printers, a rebuilt Heidelberg Printmaster 46 single-color press and 1250 Multilith. Currently, the tiered computer lab contains 41 iMac stations, 6 printers, 2 scanners, a Heidelberg Printmaster 46 2/c, a Polar 66 cutter, a Xante PlateMaker, and miscellaneous bindery and finishing equipment.

The program has also trained many award-winning students capable of competing at the national level. They've won five National Gold medals at the SkillsUSA national conference; John Litwinowicz has won the last three in a row (2010, 2009, and 2008), setting a new record for secondary education students. Mike Fleming won in 2006, and Meghan Bolye won in 2004.

Most recently, three ROHS students were in Chicago on October 5 and 6 during this year's GRAPH EXPO, the largest printing exposition held in either North or South America. John Litwinowicz received his SkillsUSA gold medal presented by Heidelberg USA. Colin Dean, a ROHS junior, received a $2,000 check for his national winning design for the Graphic Arts Education and Research Foundation. His poster and theme will be used to advertise next year's international GRAPH EXPO show. His poster was chosen from 140 secondary and post-secondary entries. Jarrad Barrick, 2009 grad, received a $2,000 national scholarship from Electronic Document Scholarship Foundation (EDSF), in CA. All awards were presented in the Grand Ball room at GRAPH EXPO in front of more than 1,000 students, instructors, and industry representatives.

On a local level, for the last eight years, students from the ROHS graphics program have received cash awards for the North American International Auto Show and Society of Automotive Engineers poster design contests.

These awards are a testament to a solid, forward-thinking program that prepares students with the requirements of our industry of tomorrow.

At the foundation of this success is a commitment from the local school board, the superintendent, principal, counselors, and fellow educators to the students, parents, and community.

This year's Kagy Award will be presented at Printing Industries of America's Fall Administrative Meetings, November 11-14, 2010, in San Francisco, CA. This forum hosts an impressive audience of industry leaders, including boards of directors and committee members from Printing Industries of America, its Ben Franklin Honor Society, and the Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation (PGSF). A photo of Mike Stinnett and Kariann Orth is available upon request.