Canon Envirothon Appoints Clay Burns Executive Director

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For Immediate Release

Canon Envirothon Appoints Clay Burns Executive Director

Former Educator, Head of Mississippi Envirothon Assumes Post August 15

NEW YORK, LAKE SUCCESS, Jun. 6 -/E-Wire/-- Canon U.S.A., Inc., the title sponsor of the Canon Envirothon environmental competition for high school students, announced

today that the Canon Envirothon Executive Committee has hired Clay Burns to be the

organization's Executive Director.

Mr. Burns, who has served for the past six years as the state coordinator for the

Mississippi Envirothon, will begin his duties on August 15, 2001.

In his new position, Mr. Burns will oversee the daily operations of the international

Envirothon program, assist in running the state and provincial Envirothon programs and

help promote the Canon Envirothon to students, teachers, science-based organizations and corporations in the United States and

"Clay Burns brings to the Canon Envirothon a wealth of experience as an educator,

administrator and fundraiser," said Keith Paglen, manager of Cause Marketing and Philanthropy for Canon U.S.A. "His energy and talents will help us continue the tremendous growth the Envirothon has experienced over the last few

Mr. Burns, who will report to the Canon Envirothon Executive Committee, joins the organization from the Mississippi Soil and Water Conservation Commission, where he has spent the last six years as Education Director. At the Commission, Mr. Burns developed and implemented natural resource conservation curriculum for school-age children and adults. He spearheaded the effort to establish the Envirothon program in Mississippi and chaired the Mississippi 2001 Steering Committee responsible for bringing the 2001 Canon Envirothon to the state. The 2001 contest takes place July 24 â 29 in Raymond, Mississippi.

"I'm delighted to have the opportunity to apply my skills and experience to this wonderful program," Mr. Burns said. "My goal is to see that there is a Canon Envirothon in every state and Canadian province and to broaden participation, especially by attracting students from urban and under-represented areas," he added.

Before joining the Soil and Water Conservation Commission, Mr. Burns spent more than

20 years as a teacher in both Mississippi and Louisiana. He was named Outstanding Adult Educator for Rankin County, Mississippi in 1991.

A Mississippi native, Mr. Burns graduated from Mississippi College in Clinton and

conducted his graduate studies in science education and administration at Nichols State University in Louisiana and the University of Southern Mississippi at Hattiesburg. Mr. Burns resides in Richland Mississippi with his wife

Stacy and his four children.

The Canon Envirothon is the largest high school environmental competition in North

America. The Canon Envirothon represents the third and final round in a competition

that begins in early spring in communities across the United States and Canada. More

than 500,000 students compete in local Envirothon contests, with the winners moving on

to state and provincial competitions, where they vie for the chance to participate in

the Canon Envirothon. Winning teams are selected by environmental professionals,

including university professors, soil and water conservation scientists, game biologists and wetlands specialists.

Begun in 1979 by three Pennsylvania Soil and Water Conservation Districts, the Canon Envirothon is supported and run by soil and water conservation districts, state and federal forestry associations and other local, state and federal environmental organizations and sponsors. Each year the competition moves to a different part of the country and studies soils, aquatics, forestry and wildlife, as well as a new "current" environmental issue. The 2001 competition will focus on urban non-point source pollution. Since Canon began supporting the Envirothon in 1997, the company has committed more than $1.3 million in funding, college scholarship money and imaging products to the program.

Canon is an industry leader in professional and consumer imaging systems and solutions and, through its parent company, Canon Inc. of Japan (NYSE:CAJ), is a top

patent holder of imaging technologies. Canon works to protect the environment through its award-winning Clean Earth Campaign, which encompasses development of energy-efficient products, equipment remanufacturing and refurbishment, workplace conservation and the protection of endangered species and their habitats through donations and employee volunteerism. Canon's environmental accomplishments include:

Collecting more than 45 million Canon-manufactured toner cartridges used in copiers,

laser printers and facsimile machines Providing three-year, $75,000 scholarships to doctoral students whose innovative research addresses scientific problems critical to U.S. National Parks.

Underwriting since 1990 the award-winning PBS series NATURE, the leading public television program on nature and wildlife

The company's comprehensive product line includes networked multifunction devices,

digital and analog copiers (color and black and white) printers, scanners, facsimile machines, camcorders, cameras and lenses; semiconductor, broadcast and medical equipment. Canon Americas employs 12,000 people at more than 30 facilities throughout North, Central, South America and the Caribbean.

All referenced product names are trademarks of their respective owners.

http://www.usa.canon.com

http://www.envirothon.org

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