Award Finalists Announced-- Shenandoah Valley Technology Council's Tech Nite 2003 is May 15, 2003

The Shenandoah Valley Technology Council (SVTC), Harrisonburg, Va., announces the finalists for its annual technology awards. The winners will be honored during the third annual Tech Nite 2003, SVTC's technology awards gala, to be held Thursday, May 15, 2003.

The Shenandoah Valley Technology Council (SVTC), Harrisonburg, Va., announces the finalists for its annual technology awards. The winners will be honored during the third annual Tech Nite 2003, SVTC's technology awards gala, to be held Thursday, May 15, 2003. The gala honors and highlights the Valleys outstanding entrepreneurs, companies, innovators, community leaders and educational visionaries.

Awards and finalists for this year are:

VERIZON ‘HIGH TECH COMPANY AWARD'
**K.V.K. Precision Specialties, Inc. (Shenandoah)
**Terralogic, Inc. (Staunton)
**Virginia Panel Corporation (Waynesboro)

This award recognizes outstanding commercial growth and achievement by an established company that produces and markets predominantly high tech products or services.

KPMG ‘HIGH TECH ENTREPRENEUR AWARD
**Brian Davis, NightLight Design (Harrisonburg)
**Peter Denbigh / Saunders Roesser, Wildwires (Harrisonburg)
**Chuck Tomney, Status One Designs, Inc. (Elkton)

This award honors an individual who has demonstrated outstanding entrepreneurial success in the development of a technology-based, commercial enterprise. The individual shall have been instrumental in the key technology development, commercialization, and subsequent demonstration of marketing success of related products and services.

WHARTON ALDHIZER & WEAVER 'HIGH TECH LEADERSHIP AWARD
**Nicholas DesChamps, DesChamps Technologies (Natural Bridge Station)
            
This award honors an individual in a high tech organization whose personal leadership and efforts in the community have resulted in outstanding benefits to the region, or an individual outside a high tech organization whose personal leadership and example have resulted in outstanding, positive technology-related activity in the region. The individual shall be a resident of the Shenandoah Valley Region.

SHENANDOAH VALLEY PARTNERSHIP 'INNOVATION IN EDUCATION'AWARD
**Blue Ridge Community College Tech Prep Consortium (Weyers Cave)
**Clarke County Schools (Berryville)
**Project TRAIN IT/ Shenandoah Valley Workforce Investment Board (Harrisonburg)
**Staunton City Schools [Shen Public Education Network] (Staunton)

This award honors the innovative use and/or development of technology within the regions educational system or other technology-training program.

VIRGINIA'S CENTER FOR INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY 'INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY APPLICATION AWARD
**Merck & Co., Inc., (Elkton)
**Northern Shenandoah Valley Transportation Public Safety Initiative (Winchester)
**WVPT – Virginias Public Television (Harrisonburg)

This award honors the innovative use of technology in more traditional Shenandoah Valley based industries such as agriculture and manufacturing.

Master of Ceremonies will once again be well-known local ‘weather man and comedian, George Hirschmann of WHSV-TV3, who kept everyone in stitches during the galas in 2001 and 2002 as he navigated everyone through the serious business of highlighting Valley technology achievements.

Gala Location: College Center, JMU, Harrisonburg. 5:30 pm Reception, 7 pm Dinner, 7:30 pm Awards Presentation. Reservations can be made at www.svtc-va.org . Individuals $75, couples $125. For additional information, contact Nicky Swayne at (540) 568-7882 or info@svtc-va.org.

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For more information contact:
Nicky Swayne
Shenandoah Valley Technology Council
Coordinator
800 S. Main Street - MSC 4803
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
phone 540.568.7882
email info@svtc-va.org

or

Lois Carter Fay, APR, President
Strategic Business Partners
411 Rainier Road
Massanutten, Va. 22840
540.289.3840 or carterfay@tmgllc.net