Michael Kleper awarded the annual Gitner Family Prize June 28, 2002 -- Michael Kleper is this year’s recipient of the Gitner Family Prize for Outstanding Professional Achievement in Graphic Communications at Rochester Institute of Technology. The award is presented annually to a faculty member in RIT’s College of Imaging Arts and Sciences who makes outstanding contributions to his or her profession. Eligible disciplines include photography, film and animation, design, printing, and illustration. Kleper, the Paul and Louise Miller Distinguished Professor in the School of Print Media, is the award‚s second recipient. As author of a highly regarded publication, he‚s received numerous accolades. The Handbook of Digital Publishing, a two-volume resource published last year by Prentice Hall, is Kleper’s eighth book. It is regarded by industry experts as the most complete guide to digital printing. "Michael Kleper's The Handbook of Digital Publishing is by far the best, and most complete, publication on this subject anywhere," says Frank D. Steenburgh, senior vice president for iGen3 Business Group at Xerox. "This is the knowledge library of digital publishing. It will always be on my desk and is my reference source." Work on a significant publication is among a half dozen potential contributions recognized for eligibility to the Gitner Family Prize. Other professional highlights may include artistic achievement at a national or international level, pro bono contribution of outstanding work to a community organization, significant technical or scientific achievement, paradigm shifting commercial work that advances their field, or service to a professional organization at a national or international level. In addition, a faculty member must have earned above average teaching evaluations during the most recent review period and be nominated by another faculty or staff member. The Gitner Family Prize was created in 2000 through a donation by Gerald and Deanne Gitner. Kleper has been a member of the RIT faculty for more than 30 years. He taught printing, digital publishing, and imaging technology at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf before joining the College of Imaging Arts and Sciences in 2000. "Michael’s tireless commitment to the advancement of the printing and publishing industry and to the excellence of our academic programs is remarkable," says Joan Stone, College of Imaging Arts and Sciences dean. "He is widely respected by both faculty and students and is very deserving of the opportunity to be singled out for this honor."