Chippewa Valley Times

The University of Wisconsin-Stout’s graphic communications program has received three grants totaling $13,000 from the Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation (PGSF). These funds are part of a broader national initiative in which PGSF awarded $535,000 in scholarships and educational support to students and institutions across the United States for the 2025-26 academic year.

The grants will provide direct benefits to students enrolled in UW-Stout’s graphic communications program as well as those pursuing the graphic media and print management minor. The funding will be used for upgraded laboratory equipment, enhanced learning experiences, and professional development opportunities.

New tools will be introduced to the Color and Quality course, including a Farnsworth Munsell 100 Hue Test, a light booth, monitor calibration devices, and a spectrometer. These additions are intended to help students better understand color perception and measurement in professional settings.

UW-Stout’s student chapter of the Technical Association of the Graphic Arts (TAGA) will also receive funding that supports travel to participate in TAGA’s annual technical conference and student competition. Students from UW-Stout will compete with other university chapters worldwide in areas such as package production, technical paper publication, technology review, journal design, T-shirt design and production, website design, and more.

Additionally, five students will receive partial scholarships to attend PRINTING United Expo—the largest printing industry event in North America. The expo provides exposure to new technologies and networking opportunities with professionals across various sectors within graphic communications. Students attending this event can participate in guided tours of exhibitor booths featuring equipment, software, packaging solutions, commercial print applications, apparel decoration technologies, wide-format graphics innovations, special events with other PGSF recipients and alumni.

“These grants allow us to bring industry-quality tools and equipment directly into our classrooms and labs,” said Program Director Bethany Wheeler. “This type of support helps us offer opportunities for our students to build confidence, sharpen technical skills, and practice real-world applications throughout the program curriculum in addition to experiences where they connect with professionals who are shaping the future of print and graphics.”

In addition to these targeted grants for lab upgrades and travel support described above, several UW-Stout students have been selected by PGSF for individual scholarships based on their academic performance: Red Moser, Allison Zwettler, Samuel Huss, Erika Jackett, Udit Patel and Cali Scholes were chosen by the PGFS Board of Directors for awards covering 2023-26 school years.

“UW-Stout and the B.S. graphic communications program would like to express our tremendous gratitude to PGSF for their continued support. The direct impact the organization has on our students is unmatched. We could not be more thankful,” Wheeler said.

The university’s graphic communications program combines design education with technology training and business strategy coursework aimed at preparing graduates for careers in printing industries such as packaging or publishing. This approach aligns with UW-Stout’s Polytechnic Advantage model emphasizing applied learning experiences alongside collaboration with industry partners.

According to Career Services’ annual First Destination Report at UW-Stout [https://www.uwstout.edu/about-us/news-center/first-destination-report-shows-high-employment-rates-stout-graduates], all recent graduates from its graphic communications program are either employed or continuing their education within six months after graduation; average starting salaries are reported at $51,000.

PGSF provided scholarships this year to 144 students at 68 institutions nationwide while also supporting educational grants and design contests [https://pgsf.org/]. Debbie Bohan—administrative director at PGSF—noted: “Without a doubt, the work we do changes and enriches lives.”

For more information about PGSF programs or scholarship opportunities visit pgsf.org [https://pgsf.org/].