Heidelberg Promotes Graphic Arts Education with 'Fit to Print' Event

KENNESAW, GA—09/21/2010—Heidelberg USA has a long and distinguished history of unwavering support for U.S. graphic arts education at the high school and secondary school levels.

In keeping with its commitment to help educate and inspire the next generation of young people contemplating a career in the graphic arts, Heidelberg’s Print Media Academy will host "Fit To Print," an event for high school and college students on Oct. 22. Up to 150 students and faculty will hear from Heidelberg experts on a variety of topics ranging from prepress and color management to lean manufacturing, packaging and MIS. They also will have an opportunity to meet, mingle and network with one another.

“Heidelberg USA is pleased to welcome these students and faculty for this event,” said Susan Nofi, Senior Vice President, Human Resources and head of Heidelberg’s Print Media Academy at Heidelberg USA. “By introducing them to our state-of-the-art training facility and inviting them to use us as a resource in the future, we aim to show students that a career in the graphic arts can pave the way to their future success in a growing, high-tech field. By the same token, we are helping to ensure that a pool of talented, motivated employees remains available to our industry for years to come.”

A View To the Wider World of Graphic Arts Technology
Heidelberg USA’s state-of-the art, multi-use North American Print and Packaging Technology Center in Kennesaw, Ga. is a natural focal point for many U.S. and International educational events held throughout the year. In March 2010, for the third year in a row, Heidelberg USA hosted the annual Georgia SkillsUSA competition in Advertising Design and Graphic Communications. This year, Heidelberg will welcome more than 100 students from Clemson University’s Graphic Communications 440 class to give them an opportunity to experience a live production environment, complete with integrated workflow and the latest in printing technology. During this year’s Graph Expo, Heidelberg once again will honor the national winners of the SkillsUSA competition at the GAERF Career Day.

Heidelberg USA also makes donations in kind to Graphic Communications departments at universities and high schools across the country. In 2010 alone, the list of beneficiaries includes Ashland University, Arizona State University, California Polytechnic Institute, Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, Clemson University, Des Moines Public Schools, Ferris State University, Hennepin Technical College, Illinois Central College, Minuteman Vocational School, Rochester Institute of Technology, Royal Oak High School, St. Joseph’s University, University of Central Missouri, Waukesha County Technical College, West Virginia University and Wright Technical Center.

In addition, Heidelberg USA provides direct support to PIA, NAPL, NPES and their many subgroups and affiliates, contributes to numerous scholarship funds, offers a full schedule of training classes through its Print Media Academy, and regularly donates the use of its meeting facilities to various industry groups.

“With Fit To Print our main objective is to motivate high school and college students to seek a career in our industry,” said Nofi. “By introducing them to it we advance a more accurate picture of a cutting edge, high tech industry that currently supports approximately 1 million jobs in the U.S.”

Source: Company press release.