Chowan University students have again been recognized as winners of the prestigious PICA Awards, presented by the Printing Industry of the Carolinas, Inc. (PICA). Each year PICA hosts a competition among members of the print industry to recognize excellence within the industry. There are also high school and collegiate levels of competition. This year’s winners were announced at the annual awards banquet, which were delayed until September 23, 2020 due to COVID-19.

In order to compete, the student must be enrolled in a graphic arts program at an accredited institution in the Carolinas at the time the work is produced. The work must have been produced by the student (from native file through finished product) within the facility of the institution in which enrolled. The work must be produced between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019. Students’ entries were in competition with work from five other collegiate programs. A panel of judges with experience in the print industry evaluate work based on print quality, paper and ink usage, difficulty of printing/production, effective use of process and overall visual impact.

This year Chowan students were recognized in the 54th annual PICA Awards for the following work:

Best of Category:
(only one chosen per category)
Title: Wood Pumpkin Spice Sign
Student: Qui’Wania Miller
Instructor: Dr. Mitchell E. Henke

Category: Digital Printing: Ink Jet Rigid
Special Judges Awards:
(more than one can be given for each category)
Title: Inner Glow
Student: Naiyhani Etheridge
Instructor: Dr. Michelle Surerus

Category: Screen Printing: 2 or More Spot Colors, Textile
Title: Marketing Kit
Students: Jonathan Taul and Kristian Boulware
Instructor: Dr. Mitchell E. Henke

Category: Digital Printing: Ink Jet Rigid
Award of Excellence:
(more than one can be given for each category)
Title: Marketing Kit with Incentives
Students: Shanelle Thompson and Diamond Martin
Instructor: Dr. Mitchell E. Henke
Category: Digital Printing: Ink Jet Rigid