June 18, 2003 -- (WESTERVILLE, Ohio)—In its continuing effort to bring new, fresh and vibrant talent to the graphic communications industry, the Printing Industries Association, Inc. serving northern Kentucky and Ohio (PIANKO) announced its scholarship foundation (Printing Industries Education Funds, Inc., or PIEF) has awarded $36,750 in scholarships to existing and potential graphic communications students for the fall of 2003. Distributing 29 scholarships, PIEF is working to ensure that students interested in entering graphic communications and the printing industry, have the tools they need. “PIEF has come a long way from its humble beginnings just four years ago,” said PIANKO President Anita Herington. “We continue to support the printing and graphic communications industries by enticing the best Ohio and northern Kentucky have to offer to enter the field.” Founded in 1999, PIEF is the 501(c) 3, tax-exempt foundation of PIANKO. Through various outlets, PIEF is able to provide scholarships from funds raised through golf outings, memorial trusts that have been established and other fund-raising activities. “It’s so great to see our foundation take off,” said Jim Hopkins, chairman of PIEF and PIANKO. Hopkins is president of Hopkins Printing in Columbus. “There’s no better thrill than knowing this money will go to help students who are pledged to enter the graphic communications industry.” Some regional winners included: North Kendon Rodgers – Mentor – Rodgers received a $1,000 scholarship from the PIEF General Scholarship Fund. He will be attending Lakeland Community College. Erin Gavit – Minster – Gavit received a $1,000 scholarship from the PIEF General Scholarship Fund. She currently attends the University of Dayton.   James Shearer – Sylvania – Shearer received a $1,000 scholarship from the PIEF General Scholarship Fund. Shearer attended Sylvania Northview High School. Jennifer Davis – New Waterfield – Davis received a $1,000 scholarship from thePIEF General Scholarship Fund. Davis attended Crestview High School. Jamie Czelusniak – Westlake – Czelusniak received a $1,000 scholarship from the Carl Zellers Memorial Scholarship Fund. She graduated from Westlake High School and plans on attending Ohio State University majoring in visual communication. Alex Czelusniak – North Olmstead – Czelusniak received a $1,000 scholarship from the PIEF General Scholarship Fund. Alex is a senior at Polaris Career Center and plans on attending Cuyahoga Community College studying commercial/graphic arts with hopes of becoming a commercial art/graphics instructor. Stephanie Siedlecki – Wickliffe – Siedlecki received a $1,000 scholarship from the William L. Stickney Scholarship Fund. Last year, Siedlecki earned the William L. Stickney Scholarship. She is majoring in graphic design and plans to make her career as a production artist, creative director or graphic artist. Central Cheyenne Shively – Covington, OH – Shively received a $1,000 scholarship from the Central Region Scholarship Fund. Shively attended Covington High School and attended Bowling Green State University in the fall. Leah Jones – New Concord – Jones received a $1,000 scholarship from the Central Region Scholarship Fund. She is a senior at John Glenn High School and will be attending Cedarville University in the fall. Heather Porter – Whitehall – Porter received a $1,000 scholarship from the R. Reid Vance Memorial Scholarship Fund. She graduated from Whitehall-Yearling High School and will be attending Columbus State Community College. South Peter Mayer – Cincinnati – Mayer received a $1,000 scholarship from the PIEF Southern Region Scholarship Fund. Mayer will be attending Cincinnati State. Eric Price – Greenhills – Price received a $1,000 scholarship from the PIEF Southern Region Scholarship Fund. Price attends the Art Institute of Cincinnati. Nathan Palmer – Oregonia – Palmer received a $1,000 scholarship from the PIEF Southern Region Scholarship Fund. Palmer attends the Warren County Career Center and will be attending the Kettering School of Advertising Art in the fall. Donald Jackson – Cincinnati – Jackson received a $1,000 scholarship from the PIEF Southern Region Scholarship Fund. Jackson is working toward a master’s degree in graphics at Cincinnati State. Becky Rellar – North Bend – Rellar received a $1,000 scholarship from the PIEF Southern Region Scholarship Fund – South Region. She attends the University of Cincinnati. This year, PIEF also was able to award a scholarship for three winners at the 2003 Skills Ohio VICA statewide graphic communications competition. Money for these scholarships came from a donation of 10 percent of the entry fees for last year’s PIANKO Print Excellence Awards. Winners included: First Place – Ryan Turnmire, Urbana, in addition to winning first place in the Skills Ohio competition, Turnmire also received a $1,000 scholarship. Second Place – Janice Mszanski, Campbell, in addition to winning second place in the Skills Ohio competition, Mszanski also received a $500 scholarship. Third Place – Ashley Cooper, Portsmouth, Cooper placed third in the competition and received a $250 scholarship. The remaining scholarship dollars were distributed through seven scholarships from PIEF member funds, the Graphic Arts Council (GAC) in Cleveland, totaling $18,000 and $2,000 given to Gateway Technical College in Northern Kentucky for five scholarships. GAC scholarships included scholarships to: Melanie Abend (Medina County Career Center), Christopher Marinin (Cuyahoga Valley Career Center), Ashley Lowdermilk (Aurora High School), Christen Provenzale (Aurora High School), Jamie Czelusniak (Westlake High School), Jessica Dugan (Cuyahoga Community College) and Greg Hug (Bowling Green State University). Gateway Technical College scholarships included: Katie Nehring from Independence, KY, Anita Hutchison from Dayton, KY, Jeff Brinkman from Florence, KY, Pamela Jet from Taylor Mill, KY and Anthony Adkins from Crescent Springs, KY.