SkillsUSA
The PIAG Educational Foundation has partnered with the Georgia Department of Education (GDOE) and SkillsUSA Georgia to help develop and administer the SkillsUSA Georgia State Leadership and Skills Conference competitions for Ad Design, Graphic Communications, and Screen Printing. The 2024 competitions were held on Friday, February 23.
Attracting and developing new and evolving talent for our industry is a priority for the Foundation. We help to ensure that high school and technical college graphic arts programs are supported and that printing career resources are promoted to promising students. To help fulfill this commitment, the Foundation has teamed up with the GDOE and SkillsUSA to reach our next generation of employees.
What is SkillsUSA?
SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers, and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. A nonprofit national education association, SkillsUSA serves middle-school, high-school, and college/postsecondary students preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations.
SkillsUSA serves more than 333,527 students and instructors annually and has more than 17,489 classrooms conducting SkillsUSA training nationwide. There are 53 state and territorial associations. More than 19,019 instructors are professional members of SkillsUSA. Contestants in the SkillsUSA Georgia competition must first compete and win in a SkillsUSA Regional Competition.
What is the State Leadership and Skills Conference?
The State Leadership and Skills Conference (SLSC) provides students the opportunity to put their technical skills to the test in various career competitions. Simultaneously, students sharpen their workplace and technical skills in leadership training, state officer elections, and more.
For several years, Heidelberg USA has hosted the Ad Design and/or Graphic Communications competitions at its Print Media Performance & TrainingCenter in Kennesaw, GA. The Screen Printing competitions are typically hosted by Danger Press in Atlanta. Both Heidelberg and Danger Press provide support staff to assist with the competition.
All competing students complete a mock interview to develop key communication skills. The advertising design competitors are given three hours to compose a logo and advertisement for a fictitious company. The graphic communications students are required to demonstrate their competency in three key areas: prepress, finishing, and digital printing. The Screen Printing competition tests similar competencies as well as the mock interview requirement.
In 2023, the PIAG Educational Foundation agreed to award scholarships to offset registration fees and assist with travel expenses for up to 6 students at the SkillsUSA national competition. Applicants are required to complete an application managed by SkillsUSA Georgia. National champions go on to compete in the WorldSkills International competition.
Past Winners
Advertising Design
- Gold - Brayden Evans, North Carroll County and Career Academy
- Silver - Emily Brooks, Northside High School
- Bronze - Ayelet Flores, Flowery Branch High School
Graphic Communications
- Gold - Kai Kvamme, Flowery Branch High School
- Silver - Saira Hernandez, R W Johnson High School
- Bronze - Anna Kelley, Chestatee High School
Screen Printing Technology
- Gold - Faith Lewis, Hiram High School
- Silver - Adriana Kirkland, Lanier County High School
- Bronze - Tylayja Hills, Long County High School
Advertising Design
- 1st Place - Jaine Geckler, North Atlanta High School
- 2nd Place - Ella Lawler, Flowery Branch High School
- 3rd Place - Kathy Truong, Rome High School
Graphic Communications
- 1st Place - Avery Chalmers, Flowery Branch High School
- 2nd Place - Judson Bray, Rome High School
- 3rd Place - Jaelyn Balistreri, R W Johnson High School
Screen Printing
- 1st Place - Aria Warner, Hiram High School
- 2nd Place - Isabella Rachel, Harris County High School
- 3rd Place - Olivia Daniel, Clarke Central High School
Advertising Design
- 1st Place - Ella Grace Lawler, Flowery Branch High School
- 2nd Place - Eva Orbock, Clarke Central High School
- 3rd Place - Sophie Feis, Walton High School
Graphic Communications
- 1st Place - Olivia Daniel, Clarke Central High School
- 2nd Place - Charlie Rozza, Walton High School
- 3rd Place - Pedro Mata, RW Johnson High School
Screen Printing
- 1st Place - Caitlin Barbarossa, Hiram High School
- 2nd Place - Mahea Bingham, Walton High School
- 3rd Place - Zakierria Palmore, Troup County High School
Advertising Design
- 1st Place - John Hill, Flowery Branch High School
- 2nd Place - Arianna Simpson, Sandy Creek High School
- 3rd Place - Madalyn Bozeman, LaGrange High School
Graphic Communications
- 1st Place - Rosalyn Ngyuen, Walton High School
- 2nd Place - Jacon Hopwood , RW Johnson High School
- 3rd Place - Micah Allen, Harris County High School
Screen Printing Technology
- 1st Place - Nick Lobb, Walton High School
- 2nd Place - Jonathan Saylors, McEachern High School
- 3rd Place - Daniel Hamilton, Hiram High School
Graphic Communications
- 1st place – Rosalyn Nguyen, Walton High School
- 2nd place – Jacon Hopwood , RW Johnson High School
- 3rd place – Micah Allen, Harris County High School
Screen Print
- 1st place - Nick Lobb, Walton High School
- 2nd place - Jonathan Saylors, McEachern High School
- 3rd place - Daniel Hamilton, Hiram High School
Ad Design
- 1st place - John Hill, Flowery Branch High School
- 2nd place - Arianna Simpson, Sandy Creek High School
- 3rd place - Madalyn Bozeman, LaGrange High School
Graphic Communications
- 1st place – Rosalyn Nguyen, Walton High School
- 2nd place – Logan Dansby, North Atlanta High School
- 3rd place – Maggie Hamilton, Richmond Hill High School
Screen Print
- 1st place – Carson Thomas, Troup County High School
- 2nd place – Danny Vogal, Hiram High School
- 3rd place – Andrew Chappelle, Harris County High School
Ad Design
- 1st place – Hannah Ohlmeier, Sandy Creek High School
- 2nd place – Nolan Gilmore, W. S. Hutchings College + Career Center
- 3rd place – Brittney Williams, Lowndes High School
Graphic Communications
- 1st place – Thomas Ireson, Houston County High
- 2nd place – Jeickob Tinoco, Appalachee High
- 3rd place – Nicholas Gibbons, RW Johnson High
Screen Print
- 1st place – Jordan Hoeppel, Greenbrier High
- 2nd place – Carson Thames, Troup County Comp High
- 3rd place – Zachary Thomas, Stephens County High
Ad Design
- 1st place – James Siad, Walton High School
- 2nd place – Morgan Young, Dalton High
- 3rd place – Dominique Jones, Kendrick High
Graphic Communications
- 1st – Cody Brown (RW Johnson High)
- 2nd – Thomas Ireson (Houston County High)
- 3rd – Madison Hanna – (Liberty College and Career Academy)
Screen Print
- 1st – Lauren Arthur (Greenbrier High)
- 2nd – Cassidy Garon (Hiram High)
- 3rd – Ben Griffin (Walton High)
Ad Design
- 1st- Grace Chauta (Veterans High)
- 2nd – Bailey Baker (Richmond Hill High)
- 3rd – Zack Lowder (Grayson Technical High)
Graphic Communications
- 1st – Ezekiel Moore (Harris County HS)
- 2nd – Cody Brown (RW Johnson High School)
- 3rd- Daniel King – (Liberty College and Career Academy)
Screen Print
- 1st – Sarah Bauman (Walton HS)
- 2nd – Marcdrevious Flagg (Troup County HS)
- 3rd — Ishmail Harrison ( Hapeville Charter Career Academy)
Ad Design
- 1st- Kelli Cadena (Carroll College and Career academy)
- 2nd – Georgia Bronson (Dalton HS)
- 3rd – Kortney Spradlin- Troup Co HS
Graphic Communications
- 1st place – Ashley Purdue – Troup County Comprehensive HS, Lagrange GA
- 2nd place – Ezekiel Moore – Harris County High School, Hamilton GA
- 3rd place – Helen Smith – Sandy Creek High School, Tyrone GA
Screen Print
- 1st place – Sarah Baumann – Walton High School , Cobb Co
- 2nd place – Joseph Stargel – Hiram High School, Paulding Co
- 3rd place – Devin Goodman – Harris County High School , Hamilton, GA
Ad Design
- 1st place – Sydney Freeman – Maxwell High School Of Technology, Lawrenceville GA
- 2nd place – Abby Smith – Richmond Hill High School, Richmond Hill Ga
- 3rd place – Chidera Obinali – Sandy Creek High School, Tyrone GA