Ian Cole, an eighth-grader, saw his artwork presented to more than a thousand Georgia government and business leaders at Thursday's appreciation luncheon.
Cole took third place in the poster category of the 2011 Manufacturing Appreciation Week (MAW) student design contest. He received a $100 scholarship check, presented at the MAW Governor's Awards Luncheon held at the Georgia International Convention Center. Georgia Public Broadcasting's Richard Warner was master of ceremonies.
"Now more than ever, we need to make young people aware that manufacturing is an area where they can express their creativity, where their talents are appreciated, and where their skills are rewarded," said Larry Callahan, CEO of Pattillo Industrial Real Estate, who presented the awards. "These are the best and brightest, and our future success as manufacturers depends on them. So, we want to thank the technical colleges across the state for promoting this contest in their communities."
"Ian is a great example of the youthful exuberance in manufacturing. We are proud of him, and hope that his enthusiasm is contagious among his fellow students," said Dr. Robin Hoffman, president of DeKalb Technical College. Students from around the state submitted design entries featuring Georgia manufacturers and their products. The three design categories were placemat, poster and t-shirt.
The awards luncheon is the highlight of MAW, celebrated this year April 25 - 29. During the ceremonies, Georgia's Manufacturers of the Year were also named: Meggitt Polymers and Composites Rockmart in the large manufacturer category (more than 500 employees); the ZF Group in Gainesville in the medium manufacturer category (150-500 employees); and LMI Kitting of Savannah in the small manufacturer category (fewer than 150 employees).
Co-hosted by the Technical College System of Georgia and the Georgia Department of Economic Development, MAW brings attention to manufacturing, a significant component of Georgia's economy. According to Gov. Nathan Deal's proclamation declaring Manufacturing Appreciation Week, nearly 10,000 manufacturing facilities are located in Georgia. They provide 357,798 jobs and generate more than $16 billion in wages for Georgia's citizens and their families.
This is the 17th year celebrating Manufacturing Appreciation Week in Georgia. This year's sponsors include AT&T; BB&T; Georgia Power; the Georgia Tech Enterprise Innovation Institute; Habif, Arogeti & Wynne; and Pattillo Industrial Real Estate.
