PIA MidAmerica’s Graphic Excellence Competition (GraphEx) was created in 1989 to recognize the outstanding abilities of print producers to transform paper and ink into outstanding forms of communication. Since the industry is comprised of very diverse companies, the competition has over 300 categories in three different divisions. The categories reflect products such as: annual reports, brochures, letterheads, newsletters, direct marketing, presentation folders, cross media campaigns, and much, much more. Divisions are determined by size of firm. Division I – Small Firm (1-20 employees); Division II – Medium Firm (21-100 employees); and Division III – Large Firm (101+ employees).
GRAPHEX AWARDS 2020
CONGRATULATIONS!
PIA MidAmerica hosts the annual Graphic Excellence Awards (GraphEx) competition to recognize our industry’s outstanding technical achievements in innovation and print production. Hundreds of entries are submitted each year in an array of categories including brochures, magazines, calendars, campaigns, packaging and much more. Our independent judges select the extraordinary pieces in the competition to be recognized for Best of Show, Best of Division, Specialty, Best of Category awards and Awards of Recognition.
In addition, we want to recognize businesses and technical professionals who make up one of the industry’s largest regional trade associations in the United States. These professionals and award-winning companies demonstrate outstanding technical capabilities in print and finishing techniques. Distinguished industry leaders are recognized with Print Champion, Creative Print Champion and Executive of the Year honors. Join me in congratulating all the winners on their outstanding contributions that have made a positive impact on our region.
Best,
2020 EXECUTIVES OF THE YEAR
Loretta Nichols
Loretta Nichols spent 35 years in the graphic arts industry. In 1984 she started her business, L&J Graphics with a silent partner and served the Kansas City market setting type for a wide variety of printing companies. She was the first and only company to offer mobile typesetting where she traveled from site to site with her typesetting equipment in an RV. Loretta participated in Ad Club and later joined PIA of the Heartland where she would go on to serve as chairperson. Later her company merged with Ben Sharp and became LJS Graphics. In 2003 she successfully sold her business to Aspen Products and began inspiring others with the love she had for the industry serving as Regional Director of Kansas and Missouri for PIA MidAmerica. Loretta retired in 2014. She passed away from cancer in September 2019.
Robert Reid
Vox Printing
Robert is Vice President of Operations for Vox Printing and proud to be a part of a company that has developed a culture to allow them to win, for the last 13 years, PIA’s Best Workplace Award and Oklahoma’s Best Places to Work. He earned a management and marketing degree from Oklahoma State University in 3 years, proving Robert does not like inefficiencies. After college Robert joined Vox Printing full time in 1992 and has led Vox’s 60 employees on their continuous improvement journey and implementation of Lean tools. His dissatisfaction with process inefficiencies is both legendary and at times exhausting to those who know him. When he’s not serving on vo-tech boards to improve Graphic Arts education and speaking at Continuous Improvement conferences, he’s dedicated to church service, helping his son’s Boy Scout Troop and his family.
2020 PROFESSIONALS OF THE YEAR
2020 EHS PROFESSIONAL
Chad Vadnais
Orora Visual
Chad is Director of Environmental, Health & Safety and Facilities Engineering for Orora Visual, where he’s worked the past three years. He has more than 25 years of experience in EHS in industries ranging from electronics and tile manufacturing to printing. Chad maintains multiple safety certifications and takes pride in being an outside-the-box thinker, coming up with new or off-the-wall ideas on how to improve upon operations. He is an avid outdoorsman and enjoys being around others.
2020 PRINT CHAMPION KS/MO
Tom Latendresse
J&J Printing
Tom Latendresse has spent the past 33 years in the printing industry: 23 years in commercial print and 10 years in print finishing & enhancements. He is known in the industry for solving difficult projects and offering viable solutions for a successful execution of the finished product. He has consulted with brand owners and commercial printers around the country to incorporate high-visibility enhancements into successful packaging and marketing campaigns. His unique ability to educate clients on creating masterpieces for print production has earned J&J Printing numerous awards, including the prestigious Premier Print “Benny” award.
2020 PRINT CHAMPION OK/TX
Cindy Pettit
Clampitt Paper
Cindy has been in Dallas for 29 years. She moved from Georgia-Pacific in Atlanta to be a specification rep with Butler Paper. After a few years, she tried a new path and sold print for 5 years, but her passion was paper after gaining so much respect for the printing side. She spent 7 years with Olmsted-Kirk, and the last 12 years have been with Clampitt Paper in business development and sales. She has volunteered with the Dallas Society of Visual Communications (DSVC) for 19 years, and believes in the power of print and paper, as well as having fun along the way.
2020 CREATIVE PRINT CHAMPION KS/MO
Megan McDonnell
Burns & McDonnell
Megan McDonnell began her career as a lead graphic designer and continued providing creative solutions for clients within the engineering and construction industry for more than a decade. Her background in design led her to pursue opportunities in production management. Having a strong background in design has provided a unique perspective in the print realm. She enjoys bringing visions to life and translating digital design to tangible experiences.
2020 CREATIVE PRINT CHAMPION OK/TX
Tom Nynas
Perennials and Sutherland
Originally from frigid, wonderfully cold Minnesota, Tom Nynas moved to Dallas after graduating from Atlanta’s Creative Circus and the University of Minnesota. Time spent within large and small advertising agencies prepared him for his current gig as the creative director of Perennials and Sutherland, LLC. He has helped build distinguished and noticeable voices for the company’s brands, which specialize in luxury outdoor furniture and performance textiles. He’s been honored to have his work featured in nearly every national and international design and advertising competition. Outside of the office, he’s a husband and the father of two sons.
PHOTOS
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KANSAS / MISSOURI
OKLAHOMA / TEXAS
BEST OF SHOW
PLATINUM
ColorMark, L.C.
Duck Call Case Bound Book & Slip Case
126-page, 11.25” x 12” case-bound book in Black Canepella fabric slip case and cover. Gold foil stamp on cover, leather spine with clear deboss and PUR glue. Produced on a HP Indigo using 80lb Classic Crest Solar White Techweave cover.
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GOLD
Foxy Propaganda
KM-1 VIP Box & Paper Sample Book
VIP Box assembled from 100lb Maxcote Gloss with two custom cut and printed trays. Inside trays made of 18pt C1S Ancora text. Also includes 9” x 13” paper sample book using 130lb Mohawk Superfine Ultra White Cover and Letter 80lb Classic Crest Solar White Linen. Produced on AccurioJet KM-1 inkjet press with UV inks.
SILVER
NextPage
And the Stars Go with You Fashion Book
Perfect-bound fashion book produced on G7 color-controlled, eight-color Komori Lithrone press using H-UV inks. Includes scuff-resistant aqueous coat for cover on uncoated Tango 24pt C1S text and 100lb Starbrite Opaque text.
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BRONZE
Brodnax21C Printers
2019 Jewelry Catalog
112-page catalog with 8-page double gate fold cover. Bound with PUR glue and performance foil. Produced using a 2017 Heidelberg 40” CDX 102 UV Offset Press on 100lb Mohawk SF Eggshell Uncoated Cover Ultra White and 80lb Mohawk SF Eggshell Uncoated Book Ultra White. Printed in six colors with four-color process and two spot PMS golds.
BEST OF KANSAS / MISSOURI
PLATINUM
Sun Graphics
LP Album Case with Sleeves & Booklet
Album case with sleeves and booklet produced on a five-color Komori Lithrone, with coater and extended delivery, using INX inks and INXKote aqueous. Silk 100lb cover for vinyl swinging pockets, laminated 80lb soft touch cover for booklet, 80lb text for end sheets and 100lb text inside front platform wrap, all sourced from Midland Paper.
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GOLD
Modern Litho
25 Years Coffee Table Book
Case-bound book produced with a 10-color + coater Heidelberg XL106. Smyth bound, foil stamped with embossed cover. End sheets and inside pages flood matte aqueous coated before scored and folded on Rollem machine. Printed on 80lb Endurance Silk cover.
SILVER
Walsworth
Spring Preview 2020 Magazine
Fashion magazine featuring scuff-free matte laminated cover with spot UV. Produced with an eight-color Heidelberg perfector on 100lb Endurance Gloss cover and 70lb Sterling Ultra Gloss text.
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BRONZE
J&J Printing
Luxury Collection Catalog
Perfect-bound, layflat luxury catalog with soft touch laminate throughout. Printed in six colors with raised UV spot gloss on cover and select inside pages. Produced with a Ryobi 750G LED UV on 120lb McCoy Gloss cover and 100lb McCoy Gloss text.
BEST OF REGIONAL OKLAHOMA / TEXAS
CENTRAL TEXAS — PLATINUM
Litho Press
History Flows Here Book
Oblong case-bound, full-color book produced on a 5-color Heidelberg SM 102 press with Saphira Bio Process Inks. Soft touch lamination cover, inside interior pages on 100lb Dull text and 80lb Finch Opaque text for end sheets.
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CENTRAL TEXAS — GOLD
Shweiki Media
State Society Magazine
Magazine printed on a Mitsubishi MD-16 Max S Plus Full Web Press with inline UV Coating & Flint Ink on Sappi Somerset paper. Bound with a Muller Martini Pantera Perfect Binder.
CENTRAL TEXAS — SILVER
Capital Printing
Cocktail Book
40-page book with foil-stamped cover produced on a 5-color Komori Lithrone G-40 H-UV LED + Coater press and Kluge EHD Series Letterpress using black 122lb Plike cover and 100lb Sterling Premium Silk book.
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CENTRAL TEXAS — BRONZE
Horizon Printing
Matchbook Brochure
10” x 6” 10-page + cover brochure with fold-out back cover, Chicago screw binding and die cut middle pocket panel. Printed on a Mitsubishi press, aqueous gloss coated with four color process on 130lb and 80lb Opus gloss cover stock.
CENTRAL TEXAS — HONORABLE MENTION
360 Press Solutions
Waterloo Greenway Magazine
28-page 8.5”x11” booklet produced using both a 6-color and 8-color Heidelberg press on Accent Opaque 80lb cover and text.
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BEST OF WEST TEXAS
Slate Group
Print Inspired Marketing Campaign
Variety of marketing conference collateral — including brochures, folders, shirts, coil-bound notebook and lanyards — produced using Komori GL 540, HP Indigo 7000, Heidelberg Cylinder Press, Kluge ApexFoil, Muller Martini Presto, Jeti Tauro H2500 LED and Kongsberg XN. Selected substrates included 120lb McCoy Gloss cover, 80lb Flo Gloss cover, 12pt Tango C1S, 100lb Flo Digital Gloss Cover and .030 Polystyrene.
DIVISION I
PLATINUM
Big Box Little Box
Advent Calendar
Turned-edge box with 25 cavities inside perforated tray, all gloss laminated. More than 105 individual pieces per box.
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GOLD
T3 Print / Bass Printing
Holdings Booklet / Brochure
40-page, perfect-bound book with foil-embossed and die-cut cover, printed with metallic ink on 6-color 26” Komori press using 80lb Neenah Evolution Text for body and 130lb Classic Crest Patriot Blue for cover.
SILVER
Foxy Propaganda
2019 Fall Collection Catalog
92-page, 10” x 13” catalog with hinge-scored cover and perfect bound with PUR glue. Produced on a AccurioJet KM-1 Inkjet press with UV inks on Maxcote Satin cover and text.
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BRONZE
Sunset Press, Inc.
Veterinarian Counter Display
Counter display piece with proxy boxes, sleeves and display backing produced on SM74 Heidelberg Press. Embossed and die cut details produced on a Heidelberg SBG Die cutter, and sleeves folded on B&R Moll Digi Moll Pak in-line system. Printed using Pantone Spot 123 with overall satin aqueous coating and spot gloss on 24pt C2S and 18pt C1S stocks.
HONORABLE MENTION
Raven Printing
Gallery ‘Animal’ Exhibition Prints
Perfect-bound, 18-page gallery exhibition booklet produced on a Canon C800 with 100lb Blazer Gloss cover.
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DIVISION II
PLATINUM
Brodnax21C Printers
Outdoor Lighting Look Book
30-page, 14.5” x 10” Wire-O bound book produced on HP Indigo 7900 using 10mil Clear Matte/Matte Rigid Vinyl for cover and 130lb Polar Bear Gloss cover for body. Cover printed with opaque white.
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GOLD
Blanks Printing & Digital Solutions
2019 Foundation Annual Report
32” page, 9” x 12” perfect-bound book produced with soft touch coating and dry trap varnish using a 5-color Heidelberg CD on 100lb Polar Bear book and cover.
SILVER
J&J Printing
Informing the Future Annual Report
Perfect-bound, 54-page annual report with soft-touch cover and eight diecut tabs. Printed four-color process with a Ryobi 750G LED UV with INX inks on 80lb Cougar cover and 80lb Cougar text.
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BRONZE
Jarvis Press
September 2019 & January 2020 Magazines
8.5” x 11” 32-page, saddle-stitched magazine with 8-page Z-foldout cover. Produced on a Komori 640 press with Mueller Martini saddle stitcher and Bobst die cutter. Cover and text printed with spot color and satin varnish on 100lb Finch Fine Ultra Smooth cover.
HONORABLE MENTION
Boelte-Hall
The Club Brochure
8.5” x 8.5” booklet produced on a six-color Komori featuring embossed, foil-stamped cover. Pages square-edge bound with gold staples. Mohawk Carnival Cordwain 90lb red cover, 80lb Accent Opaque and 80lb White Smooth Cover used.
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DIVISION III
PLATINUM — TIE
ColorDynamics
Spring 2019 Stylist Look Book
116-page concealed 12” Wire-O book with five die-cut tabs and a foil stamped, double-thick mounted cover. Produced on a 10-color Komori LS Perfector UV press and Heidelberg Letterpress. Mohawk 100lb Options Smooth Crystal White cover and text used for cover and tabs with Top Level UV inks.
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PLATINUM — TIE
ColorDynamics
Presidential Center 2018 Annual Report
32” page, 9” x 12” perfect-bound book produced with soft touch coating and dry trap varnish using a 5-color Heidelberg CD on 100lb Polar Bear book and cover.
GOLD
Orora Visual
Game of Thrones Bottle Display
Game of Thrones retail display tower produced on 81” Koenig & Bauer press. Columns made from 100lb text mounted to B flute corrugate. Other elements made from 24pt SBS (solid bleached sulfate) board and 100lb text dual-mounted to 3⁄16” foam core.
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SILVER
Modern Litho
Specialty Crop Protection Portfolio
Portfolio with six-page signatures produced on a five-color Heidelberg XL 105 with coating. Cut and bound using Bobst die cutter, Rollem score/perf and Twin Loop binder, with careful attention paid to avoid cracking on folds. Outside is 130lb Classic Crest Avon Brilliant White Double Thick Smooth cover and 100lb Classic Crest Avon Brilliant Smooth cover inside.
BRONZE
Walsworth
Cabo Living Spring 2020
Booklet featuring scuff-free matte laminated cover produced on an eight-color Heidelberg perfector. Includes a 16-page tip-in. Cover is 10 pt Kallima C2S FSC Mix, 70lb White Influence Gloss text for text, and 80lb White Anthem Plus Gloss text tip-in.
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HONORABLE MENTION
Nieman Printing
2020 Tendencias Book
Portfolio with six-page signatures produced on a five-color Heidelberg XL 105 with coating. Cut and bound using Bobst die cutter, Rollem score/perf and Twin Loop binder, with careful attention paid to avoid cracking on folds. Outside is 130lb Classic Crest Avon Brilliant White Double Thick Smooth cover and 100lb Classic Crest Avon Brilliant Smooth cover inside.
BEST OF DIGITAL
PLATINUM
Foxy Propaganda
2019 Hard Cover Book
9” x 9” case-bound book, produced on Accurio Jet KM-1 inkjet press using 100lb Flo Dull Text in four-color process with UV inks.
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GOLD
ColorDynamics
Model Search Book
80-page perfect-bound book, produced digitally on HP 12000 using IP Accent paper.
SILVER
ColorMark, L.C.
Africa Semi-Concealed Wire-O Travel Guide
Wire-O bound, 6.25” x 8” travel guide with laser-cut cover and die-cut back cover pocket, mounted dividers and texts sheets. Body produced on HP Indigo, dividers produced on Ricoh press using 100lb French Brown Box cover and 7 different 111lb Keakoulours. 166lb Wild White cover.
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BRONZE
AlphaGraphics Kansas City
‘Feast of Legends’ Campaign
Collateral set for Wendy’s franchise exclusive character launch. Set includes case-bound book with matte laminated cover, offset printed poster, digitally printed custom die and bag, kiss cut removable custom stickers and postcard produced on a Ricoh 7210SX. Book is 80lb Blazer Silk text, character pages are 24lb Hammermill Uncoated text, and end sheets are 80lb Epic Black text.
HONORABLE MENTION — TIE
H&H Color Lab
Edge Collection: Torn Edge Designer Block
Custom-constructed, silk-wrapped block for 12”x18” float-mounted Giclée print on LexJet-Sunset Cotton Etching Paper. Produced on an Epson Stylus Pro 11880 with Epson Ultra Chrome K3 ink.
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HONORABLE MENTION — TIE
Miller Imaging & Digital Solutions
Bryce Canyon Poster
Large format poster created from scanned original artwork with color-match control processes, produced in 12 colors on Canon iPF9400 press using Hahnemuhle German Etching paper and Canon Lucia inks.
SPECIALTY AWARDS KS / MO
JUDGE’S CHOICE
Kingston Printing
Exquisite Jewelry Booklet
Perfect-bound, 36-page 6”x9” jewelry booklet printed on a six-color Komori LS640 UV press with inter-deck drying. Printed four-color process with soft touch aqueous and spot varnish throughout on Veritiv 120lb Endurance Silk cover and text.
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BEST USE OF PAPER
Modern Litho
Nativ Living Catalog
Home décor catalog printed in four-color process with offset coated cover using an eight-color Heidelberg XL105 perfector and 10-color + coater Heidelberg XL 106. Perfect-bound with a Mueller Martini Alegro on 100lb Mohawk Via Bright White Felt cover and 100lb Accent Opaque White Offset text.
BEST USE OF INK
NextPage
Institute Annual Campaign
Presentation kit produced with an eight-color Komori Lithrone perfector + coater using H-UV inks on 120lb Endurance Silk cover, 100lb Endurance Silk text and 17lb UV Ultra II Translucent stock.
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BEST INNOVATION
Largeprinting.com
POP Backlit Display Header
Large format point of purchase display sign using multi-layer .020 PETG vinyl. Second surface printed with backlit technology and partial block out. Produced on Agfa Touro 2500LED press with Agfa UV inks.
BEST USE OF SUBSTRATE
Alpine Litho
Institute Card
Foil-stamped, die-cut greeting card produced digitally with an HP Indigo 7800 and incorporates translucent paper. PMS spot color on 100lb McCoy Silk produced with a Heidelberg Speedmaster 74 and aqueous coating. Translucent element is 40lb Glama.
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BEST OF PACKAGING
PrintForest
PrintForest Paper Sample Kit
Environmentally sustainable paper sample kit produced on a Ricoh 9110 with toner. Ink recycled through Ricoh Toner Cartridge/Container/Maintenance Kit Return Program.
BEST USE OF FINISHING
H&H Color Lab
Edge Collection: Matted Prints with Wrap & Box
Collection of 5”x7” photographic prints with 8”x10” white mats. Prints produced on FujiFilm Frontier LP5700 with FujiColor Crystal Archive Lustre Photographic Paper. Wrap and box coordinated with natural heather fabric and green-tooled leather. Box features a lifting ribbon inside to easily remove wrap and includes a wood easel.
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BEST OF BINDING
Creative Printing
Limited Edition Booklet
Large format booklet produced with an HP Indigo, and cover foil stamped on Kluge press. Bindery and stitching done in partnership with HF Group. Neenah Black Touche 232lb cover and French Speckletone True White 100lb cover used, along with CTI Glama Translucent.
SPECIALTY AWARDS OK / TX
JUDGE’S CHOICE
Foxy Propaganda
100 Year Anniversary Coffee Table Book
132-page, 11” x 14” book gloss-coated with hinge-score cover. Produced using a AccurioJet KM-1 inkjet press with UV inks on Maxcote Gloss 100lb text and Anthem Gloss 120lb cover. Bound with PUR glue.
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BEST USE OF PAPER
ColorDynamics
Three-Piece Marketing Set
3 saddle-stitched and die-cut marketing pieces produced on a Komori LS Perfector 10 Color UV Offset Press using 80lb Finch Fine Antique cover, 80lb McCoy Silk Cover and 80lb McCoy Silk Book.
BEST USE OF INK
ColorDynamics
Fall 2019 Lookbook
48-page lookbook with foil stamping and letter-press score on front and back cover. Perfect bound with PUR glue. Produced on Komori LS Perfector 10 Color UV Offset Press, and Heidelberg Letterpress using Mohawk 80lb Superfine Eggshell Ultrawhite cover and text with Toplevel UV Ink.
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BEST INNOVATION
Spartan Printing
Dryer Machine
Promotional display dryer with mechanical component inside. Produced on Vutek QS2 UV press using 3mm PVC and .060 clear PETG.
BEST USE OF SUBSTRATE
JGX Group
Waterfall Pool Floating Graphic
16ft-diameter floating graphic displayed in large fountain. Produced on SwissQ Impala flatbed using Jessup Softwalk material. Printed in 8-foot sections and cut into pie-shapes pieced together. Printed with swissQpint 5l UV Ink in four color process with added 51 light Cyan and 51 light Magenta G2.
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BEST OF PACKAGING
Big Box Little Box
Fragrance Launch Box
Custom wood box, with four-color printed shoulder, housing a brochure and several items for fragrance launch. Shoulder and lid produced on a Mimaki.
BEST USE OF FINISHING
Big Box Little Box
Women in Flight Box
Foil-stamped, turned-edge boxes to promote women in flight for American Airlines, created in partnership with The Marketing Arm. Produced on Mimaki press with UV ink using White Matador and Navy Mano substrates.
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BEST OF BINDING
ColorMark, L.C.
Banff Travel Guide
7.8125” x 8.625” Chicago-screw bound travel guide with registered emboss/deboss cover, silk-screened textures and UV gloss on dividers and text sheets. Produced using a HP Indigo on 100lb Classic Crest Natural White Text, 24pt black cover, 120lb Opus Dull cover for dividers and 80lb Classic Crest Solar White text for the interior.
STUDENT AWARDS
— PITTSBURG STATE UNIVERSITY —
FIRST PLACE
Abigail Cook
Graduation Announcement
SECOND PLACE
Grace Haworth
Beck Mellow Gold CD Case
THIRD PLACE
Carter Bowman
Wirebound Fieldbook
THANK YOU TO OUR 2020 SPONSORS
ACME Sales Development
ALC Group
Balcones Recycling
Batliner Recycling
Boelte-Hall
Canon USA
Clampitt Paper
Cobblestone Graphic Equipment
ColorDynamics
Domtar
e-volved print & packaging
FujiFilm
GPA
Heidelberg
HP
INX International
Komori
Konica Minolta
Kurz
Kyocera
Liz Parks – Savvy Knack
Love Envelopes
Midland Paper
Mimaki
Mohawk
Novatech
Olmsted-Kirk Paper Co.
Omaha Paper
Packsize
Performance Specialty Service
Printer’s 401K
Sappi
Spartan Printing
SumnerOne
Texas Recycling
Top Level Ink
Ussery Printing
Veritv
Western-BRW
X-rite
Xeikon
Xerox
Yupo
Zund