Pittsburgh, Pa., October 15, 2003 — The Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (GATF) has announced that its 2003 Education Award of Excellence goes to a professional graphic arts educator of more than 30 years, Daniel Johnson, GAIT (Graphic Arts Institute of Technology) developer and instructor, Triton College, River Grove, Illinois. Established in 1984, the GATF Education Award of Excellence recognizes his outstanding, lifelong contributions and dedication to graphic arts education. Johnson is highly respected as an innovative teacher, an enthusiastic mentor, and a professional whose dedication has touched both graphic arts education and people beyond the walls of academia. Colleagues nominated him for the Education Award with numerous accolades for his educational endeavors. Johnson began his professional career at a high school, then went on to teach process camera work and stripping at Triton College. After advancing to a new position as scanning instructor at Triton and completing a Masters degree and other advanced studies at Northern Illinois University, Johnson became coordinator of Triton’s Photo Offset Department in 1982. At that time, the department consisted of three full-time and six to eight adjunct faculty. During his seventeen-year consecutive tenure, Johnson doubled both full-time instructors and adjunct faculty. He also brought four new “advanced certificates” to the college to serve the needs of a growing, changing student population. In 1989, Johnson was instrumental in changing the name and image of the photo offset department to a more currently recognized name, GAIT, or the Graphic Arts Institute of Technology. Johnson brought state and national awards to the Triton GAIT program, and the program also earned GATF’s 1993 Kagy Award of Excellence. As Francis R. Mucci, press instructor, Triton College, said of Johnson’s accomplishments, “Each on its own holds much merit; however, when thinking about the totality of his contributions, the list is far too great for this nomination.” Commended for his dedication to educational service, Johnson was recognized by one nominator as the person who initiated the idea that high school students should be able to apply printing study-related credits from their high school to Triton College. Seeking to eliminate the duplication of costly laboratory facilities in neighboring community colleges and universities, Johnson also worked to establish an educational consortium that would erase the boundaries that separate in-district and out-of-district tuition for graphic arts students in neighboring Triton communities. Johnson’s nominators and supporters span a gamut of colleagues, professional associates, and even students. Johnson was cited for activities ranging from classroom teacher and student support to the development of classes and workshops focused on new and changing technology, and the creation of high-level and cost-effective industry and education partnerships. As one supporter expressed, Johnson’s contributions always involved a true partnership, never a one-way street. The GATF Education Award of Excellence plaque will be presented to Johnson during an awards luncheon scheduled for Saturday, November 15, 2003, at La Mansion Del Rio in San Antonio, Texas. GATF Education Awards of Excellence Background Recognizing that the success of graphic arts education and training programs depends to a great extent upon the motivation, enthusiasm, and leadership of those dedicated to teaching, the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation established the Education Awards of Excellence in 1984 to recognize dedicated teachers. Two awards are usually presented each year, one to an outstanding educator in an academic setting and another to an outstanding instructor in an industry setting, although the number of awards given each year falls to the selection committee’s discretion. Recipients of the award are selected on the basis of several criteria: A distinguished education service or a special education or training program, project, or accomplishment attributable to a nominee’s leadership concerted efforts A special display of graphic communications leadership at the local, state, or national level A unique contribution not covered by the stated criteria will also be considered, with more significance attached to contributions that go beyond routine professional responsibilities. Educators at all academic levels and instructors in all segments of the printing industry are eligible for the award, and nominees do not have to be GATF/PIA members. For more information on how to submit a nomination for the GATF Education Awards of Excellence contact the GATF marketing department at 800-910-4283.