Pittsburgh, PA, June 28, 2006-- Printing Industries of America/Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (PIA/GATF) and its Ben Franklin Society are seeking to honor an outstanding woman and a school program in the graphic communications industry. Nominations for the Naomi Berber Memorial Award and the Frederick D. Kagy Education Award of Excellence are due July 28, 2006. The Naomi Berber Memorial Award was established in 1976 and created to honor the “First Lady of the Foundation,” Naomi Berber, who served as GATF's first administrative director and was the first woman elected to the Society of Fellows, now known as the Ben Franklin Society. This award is presented annually to a woman who has made major contributions to the development of the graphic communications industry. Nominees for the Berber award must have worked in the graphic communications field for ten or more years and achieved an outstanding record of accomplishments. Such activities could be in the form of extraordinary leadership, direction, and/or support of programs that have furthered the interests of the industry. The Frederick D. Kagy Education Award of Excellence was first presented in 1993 and honors the distinguished career of Frederick D. Kagy, Professor Emeritus of the College of Applied Science and Technology, Department of Industrial Technology, Illinois State University. This award was established to recognize a superior graphic communications program at the junior high, high school, or community college level. Nominated institutions must demonstrate strong instructional leadership, a high degree of professionalism, innovative techniques, and promotion of the industry. To be eligible, the institution must be staffed or directed by a PIA/GATF teacher member. Annual teacher memberships can be purchased for $49. Selection & Presentation The Naomi Berber Memorial Award and Frederick D. Kagy Education Award of Excellence are sponsored by the Ben Franklin Society, which, since 1969, honors industry leaders who have made outstanding contributions to the progress of PIA/GATF, its affiliates, and the Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation (PGSF). A committee of independent judges will review nominations and select a recipient for each award. Recipients of both awards will be honored at the 2006 PIA/GATF Administrative Meetings, next scheduled for November 9-12 in Milwaukee, WI. This forum hosts an impressive audience of industry leaders including the boards of directors and committee members for PIA/GATF, its Ben Franklin Society, and the Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation (PGSF). To receive a nomination form, contact Deena Hower, PIA/GATF's marketing assistant, by phoning 412-259-1702 or emailing [email protected]. Written requests can be directed to Deena Hower, 200 Deer Run Road, Sewickley, PA 15143-2600.