GAERF Supports U.S. Participation in Worldskills Offset Printing Competition

RESTON, VA—April 1, 2009—For the first time ever a student from the U.S. will compete in the WorldSkills offset printing competition to be held September 1-7, 2009, in Calgary, Canada. Amela Mujkic, a senior at Ferris State University, was recently selected from among three competitors at the qualifying competition held at Heidelberg USA's Print Media Academy, Buffalo Grove, IL. Financial and in-kind support from the Graphic Arts Education and Research Foundation (GAERF), Heidelberg USA, the Printing and Imaging Association of Georgia (PIAG), and the Printing Industries of Michigan (PIM) have made participation in this event possible.

“I extend a big thank you to all who have helped make this dream of sending a SkillsUSA competitor to Calgary a reality. A partnership such as this—with students, teachers and industry working together—is key to America's skilled workforce for the future,” comments SkillsUSA Executive Director Tim Lawrence.

GAERF President Ralph Nappi added, “I was encouraged by the quality of the competitors and feel confident that we will be sending our best to WorldSkills in September. Those involved in planning and preparing for this event should be commended on their extraordinary efforts to make U.S. participation in this offset printing competition possible.” Michael Fleming, Ferris State University, and Allyssa Ailion, Georgia State University, were the other contenders.

About WorldSkills
The International Vocational Training Organization, headquartered in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, sponsors the biennial WorldSkills Competition (WSC). This year the event will take place in Calgary, Canada, from September 1-7, 2009, hosting over 1,000 competitors from 51 countries. WorldSkills is the pinnacle of excellence in skilled trades and technologies training.

About SkillsUSA
SkillsUSA is a national nonprofit organization of students, teachers and industry, working together to ensure America has a skilled work force. SkillsUSA helps high school and college students enrolled in career and technical education programs to excel by teaching employability skills such as communication, problem solving and leadership in conjunction with their trade, technical and service occupations skills. The association's annual membership exceeds 300,000 students and instructors in more than 4,000 schools and colleges in every state, three territories and the District of Columbia. For more information, visit: www.skillsusa.org.

About GAERF®
The Graphic Arts Education and Research Foundation was created by the National Association for Printing Leadership, NPES The Association for Suppliers of Printing, Publishing and Converting Technologies and the Printing Industries of America in 1983. These three national associations jointly own the Graphic Arts Show Company (GASC®). GAERF was created to channel a portion of the revenues earned by GASC-managed shows into projects supporting a strong future for the industry. For additional information about the Foundation and its programs, visit the GAERF web site at: www.gaerf.org or phone toll-free: 866/381-9839.