Sheryl Pattek

The School District of Palm Beach County and Océ North America announced today the selection of nearly 60 middle and high school students to participate in the 2009 Océ Future Authors Project. About 15 of the students will be participating from Glades Central High School through distance learning technology. Seven graduates of the program will be returning as mentors.

Reports on Graph Expo attendance are mixed. Overall attendance was down 12.5 percent over the 2007 show, surpassing 26,000. Yet the number of companies sending buyers to the Chicago show rose to 8,800. And vendors report that those attendees were more serious than in previous years.

"Given the situation in the economy, we weren't sure what to expect at the show," acknowledged Sheryl Pattek, vice president, marketing services, production printing systems, at Océ North America. "However. the traffic [was] very steady. Sunday was the busiest Sunday I can remember in the last five years, and Monday was even busier."