For the fourth year in a row, Heidelberg USA hosted the annual Georgia SkillsUSA Training Day and competition in Advertising Design and Graphic Communications on March 15 and 16 at its Technology Center in Kennesaw, GA. The Printing and Imaging Association of Georgia (PIAG) partnered with Heidelberg USA to sponsor the event. 
 
“Of the many events for which Heidelberg donates the use of its North American Print and Packaging Technology Center, the annual Georgia SkillsUSA competition is among the most important and rewarding,” said Susan Nofi, Senior Vice President, Human Resources and head of Heidelberg USA’s Print Media Academy. “It’s wonderful to have this opportunity to inspire the next generation of graphic communications professionals. Given our long history of leadership in industry education, Heidelberg is uniquely well-equipped to host the event, and we are especially proud to make the resources of our Technology Center available to these talented young students as they pursue their future in our industry.” 

The national SkillsUSA Championship competition is held each summer in Kansas City, Mo., followed by the WorldSkills International competition, held each fall in different locations around the globe. Skills USA is the national organization for students in trade, industrial, technical and health occupation education. It conducts the annual SkillsUSA Championships to recognize the achievements of vocational students and encourage them to excel. 
 
A grant from the PIAG Educational Foundation will enable first place contestants and their advisors to travel to Kansas City in June to compete in the national SkillsUSA competition. In addition, Heidelberg USA awards scholarships to the national SkillsUSA winners and donates the use of six Printmaster QM 46 presses during the national competition. The school of the first place secondary and postsecondary winners also receives a one-year lease for a Printmaster QM 46 press.
 
We’ll Be Back
All students competed in a job interview and written skills assessment. Advertising design competitors had three hours to compose a logo and advertisement.  The graphic communications competitors were required to demonstrate competency in prepress work, offset press operation, and finishing techniques.

Said Scott Porter, a Graphic Communications instructor at R.W. Johnson High School in Gainesville, GA, “Before I became a teacher, I worked for 18 years in the printing industry. Heidelberg has always represented excellence in every respect. If a company had a Heidelberg press, I knew they were serious about serving their customers and representing their business and employees in a positive, professional light. I am very proud of our student (Grayson Anthony), who placed second in the Graphic Communications competition. We’ll be back next year, better prepared and aiming for first place. In the meantime, I’ll be visiting the national competition to cheer on our state winner!” 
 
Winners in the Georgia graphic communications competition include: first place: Kim Crabtree, Central Education Center, Newnan, GA; second place: Grayson Anthony, Johnson High School, Gainesville, GA; and third place: Wyatt Kane, Walton High School, Marietta, GA.
Winners in the Georgia advertising design competition include: first place: Lawrence Murray, Bradwell Institute, Hinesville, GA; second place: Cadie Evans, Troup Co. High School, LaGrange, GA; and third place: Tyler Greene, Kennesaw Mtn. High School in Kennesaw, GA.