KENNESAW, Ga. – April 15, 2008 –The Graphic Communications Program at Wayne High School in Wayne, W. Va. is thinking strategically. Having won silver in the West Virginia state Skills USA competition on two previous occasions, the program now has its eye on winning the top national prize next time out, now that it has installed a fully automated Printmaster QM 46 2-color press of its very own.

According to Mark Ross, instructor with the program since its inception 11 years ago, the new press has become the focal point of the classroom. “Our students love the fast setup and the many automated features of the QM 46-2. They fight for the right to work on it,” he jokes, “and only the strongest survive.” The program at Wayne High School is itself a focal point for the 21 schools comprising the Wayne County school district, for which it serves as the in-plant print shop, as well as for the surrounding community. Its 47 students have regular contact with local business leaders throughout the school year, and met recently with the governor of the state for a roundtable discussion about the future of the graphic communications industry in West Virginia.

The shop also does silk screening of tee shirts and other items for local sports events and other community outreach projects. Internships are available to the best and the brightest, says Ross, with most graduates achieving placement at a commercial print shop or post-graduate programs offering a print management degree.