NEW YORK, NEW YORK, SEPT. 16, 2005 -- The Graphic Communications Scholarship Award and Career Advancement Foundation, Inc. (GCSACAF) has announced that it will expand the geographic and sponsorship scope of its fourth annual scholarship awards program. The awards, given to high school students studying graphic communications, will be presented at a ceremony in New York in June, 2006. The announcement was made by Mark Darlow, president of the Foundation. “In addition to applicants from the five New York City boroughs and Nassau and Suffolk Counties, students in Westchester and Rockland Counties, as well as New Jersey’s Union County, will be eligible to compete for the awards,” noted Mr. Darlow. “Associations and clubs in the graphic communications field will be solicited to sponsor scholarships, expanding the number of honorees from eight in 2005 to perhaps double that amount.” Information about the scholarships will be distributed to high school teachers, guidance counselors and principals and will be posted on the Foundation’s web site, www.GCScholarships.org. Students applying for scholarships are asked to submit grade scores, college acceptance letters, a portfolio of their work and an essay outlining their interest in graphic communications as a career. The judges are veteran industry executives and creative professionals. Mark Darlow, sales executive at Graphic Art Supply and former chief executive officer of Cardinal Communications Group (both New York City), succeeded Linda E. Nahum, Kingsborough Community College, as Foundation president. Other officers of the board of trustees of the scholarship group are Vice President David Luke (The Form House, New York City); Treasurer William Dirzulaitis (graphic industry consultant); and Secretary Debra Bigelison (High School of Graphic Communications, New York City). Darlow, a 40-year plus veteran of the graphic communications industry, observed that the graphic communications business has expanding horizons. Among other in-demand professional skills are printing, publishing, design, interactive media, digital photography, print and electronic advertising and digital asset management. Estimated sales volume for the graphic communications industry in the New York tri-state area is $20 billion. Globally the estimate is $500 billion. For further information, contact Mark Darlow at [email protected] or (cell phone) 917/476-3759.