ESTATES, Calif.--April 9, 2007-- EDSF, the international, non-profit organization dedicated to the document management and communications marketplace, today announced the 2007 Excellence in Education and Educator of the Year award recipients. The 2007 EDSF Excellence in Education Award recipients demonstrate educational excellence and innovation as they prepare individuals for careers in the document management and communications marketplace. The award recipients will be announced at the EDSF Industry Leaders' Luncheon during the AIIM and ON DEMAND Conferences & Expos on Tuesday, April 17 at the Boston Convention & Exposition Center. EDSF will be located in Booth 208 on the Expo floor. Educators and their educational programs set the stage for successful learning experiences for the next generation of professionals. The EDSF Excellence in Education Awards for Innovation honor these individuals, academic institutions and professional training organizations for their excellence and innovative teaching efforts in preparing the future workforce. Since 1997, when the program was initiated, 46 educators and/or academic and training programs have received recognition. Individuals and programs have been honored from the United States, Canada, Germany, Australia, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Belgium, and Denmark. "Educators and academic programs set the stage for tomorrow's professionals and leaders in the document management and communication industries," said Joel Cartun, EDSF vice chair for Education and founder, Vestcom International, Inc. "Their dedicated efforts, innovative teaching and leading-edge educational programs not only benefit the industry, they also shape the minds that will develop how we communicate and use documents in the future." Christina Condos, Group Show Director, Questex Media Group, said, "EDSF's recognition and financial support of educators and future business leaders is inspirational. The outstanding contribution they make to the industry is illustrated year after year by the quality and talent of the students and educators they have chosen." Educator of the Year Awards The Educator of the Year Awards are presented to academic professionals at both the college and secondary school levels who are dedicated to the advancement of the industry through education. These individuals have made significant contributions in the classroom with their students, in curriculum development and within the document management and communications marketplace. Such individual leaders provide leadership, inspiration and enthusiasm in all that they do. This year's winners include: -- Educator of the Year - Higher Education, Sponsored by Xerox Corporation Robert Y. Chung, Gravure Research Professor, School of PrintMedia, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY, USA, is recognized for his passion and his constancy of purpose throughout his professional career as an educator. Chung motivates students to learn, to reach new heights of knowledge through their ideas and his ideas, and to develop excitement for discovery. He continuously challenges them and exposes them to leading-edge technology and the most current industry needs. -- Educator of the Year - Secondary Education, Sponsored by Ricoh Americas Corporation Michael H. Stinnett, Instructor, Graphic Communications & Visual Imaging Technology, Royal Oak High School, Royal Oak, MI, USA, a graphic communications instructor, is a master teacher who has had an enormous impact on the high school students he has mentored over the past thirty years. A person of unusual foresight, he successfully developed a program that stays abreast of the ever-changing technology in the industry. Stinnett adapts his curriculum to ensure that his students have the educational experiences required to adapt their skills to be successful and productive in the workplace and society. Excellence in Education Awards The Excellence in Education Awards honor worldwide academic institutions and professional organizations for their educational and innovative efforts relating to the document management and communications industry. Recipients address industry issues, reflect state-of-the art technology and benefit the industry through their programs. This year's winners include: -- Innovation in Higher Education, Sponsored by Franchise Services, Inc. Digital Print Education Center (DPEC), SENAI Graphic Arts School, Manoel Mangeigas de Oliveria, Director, Sao Paulo, Brazil. DPEC, the largest educational center for the document management and communications industries in Latin America, centralizes the most current leading-edge technologies in digital printing. Students are successfully provided with the new skills that are required for the local graphic communications marketplace. -- Innovation in Continuing Education, Sponsored by Canon U.S.A. Occupational Skills Training Center (OSTC), Charlie Benjamin, Instructor, Baltimore, MD, USA. OSTC is a cooperative venture among the Maryland State Department of Education, the Department of Corrections, and employers in the Baltimore region. Students in a correctional facility receive entry-level training in all aspects of graphic communications. Following their successful preparation they are assisted in securing a wide-range of career opportunities with over 30 printing and graphics companies who partner with OSTC. -- Innovation in Secondary Education, Sponsored by Eastman Kodak Company, PrintIT!, Picon, Paul Evans, Project Director, Godalming, Surrey, UK PrintIT! works with 15- and 16-year old students and reinforces the message that printing is a high-tech, global communications medium with exciting career opportunities. Through careful planning and collaboration among educational, charity, and manufacturing sectors, PrintIT! has reached over 20,000 students and has enhanced their learning experiences while emphasizing the need for career learning in printing and social responsibility. Additionally, to help prepare the next generation of professionals, a variety of industry-supported, academic scholarships are provided for eligible students worldwide. This financial support helps students pursue their studies and careers in the document management and communications marketplace. In addition to a number of EDSF scholarships, the following companies sponsor scholarships administrated by EDSF: Axis, Inc.; Heidelberg USA; The Lewis M. Gabbe Foundation; OutputLinks; Pitney Bowes, Inc.; Questex Media Group; and Xplor Canada Association.