COLUMBIA, MD - The Printing & Graphics Association MidAtlantic (PGAMA) is pleased to announce that Brittany Whitestone, a student at the Carroll County Career and Tech Center Print Production program has won the 2016 National SkillsUSA Graphic Communications Competition. The contest was held the week of June 20^th in Louisville, Kentucky. Brittany competed against 20 other secondary students from around the country to win top honors in the competition. This is the 3^rd straight year that a Maryland student has brought home the gold. 

Brittany turned in an outstanding performance in the seven section competition, during which students were tested in multiple aspects of print production including production planning, digital workflow, digital press operations, offset press operations, and finishing. Students also participated in a job interview and took the SkillsUSA Graphic Communications Skill Connect Assessment---a 50-question exam measuring their general knowledge of the industry. “Competing in the graphic communications competition confirmed my desire to pursue a career in the printing industry” said Brittany. “There is no other industry like it.”

Two time Graphic Communications Competition gold winner Chandler Kerr shared his prior experiences with Brittany in preparation for the nationals “I had been in contact with Brittany before the competition and more during the contest week, and from what I had seen, she displayed all the qualities that helped me win nationals” noted Kerr. “She was skilled in every area of the competition. The most important thing I think she displayed, though, was her passion for printing.”

Regional and State competition judge Becky Miller from Westland Printers (an RR Donnelley Company) observed “Brittany was a pleasure to work with at the regional and state competition. With her skill set and good attitude, I am not surprised she came home with the gold at nationals! Westland had the pleasure of hosting Brittany for a couple hours in a training session prior to the competition—she impressed both our management team and staff.”

This Spring, Brittany graduated from the PrintED accredited Print Production program at the Carroll County Career and Tech Center and plans to attend the Art Institute of Tampa this Fall. PrintED is a national accreditation program for graphic communications coursework. PGAMA helps to develop curriculum and assist graphics and printing programs achieve PrintED accreditation. Learn more about PrintED at www.GAERF.org/printed.

PGAMA sponsors the SkillsUSA contest each year as part of its goal to build a future workforce to sustain the printing industry. PGAMA staff and members of the Association, as well as other industry professionals, serve as volunteer judges, host the competition, and donate materials. PGAMA is a non-profit trade association serving printing firms in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.