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Graphic design, graphic communications students win international TAGA Student Choice Award

goersab — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 12:35:00 +0000

Graphic design, graphic communications students win international TAGA Student Choice Awardgoersab June 11, 2026

Interdisciplinary team of graphic communications, graphic media, print management students’ ‘Mail Across Minneapolis’ celebrates print media

Abbey Goers

In an international competition designed to celebrate the way print media brings people together across the globe, a team of ��Ͽ� Polytechnic students won the coveted TAGA Student Choice Award at the 2026 Technical Association of the Graphic Arts, Helmut Kipphan Student Chapter Competition. The award was announced in April during a watch party hosted by Konica Minolta, in Chicago.

The winning team is made up of students in the B.S. graphic communications and B.F.A. graphic design and interactive media programs and the graphic media and print management minor. Their design, “Mail Across Minneapolis,” inspired by postcards, is a folding carton mailbox made of paperboard. Their submission included the final deliverable, a journal publication, and detailed production notes, which reinforced their skills in design, technical execution, project management and collaboration.

Sam Mireles-Melgarejo, Theodore Cerny, Becky Gaspord, Red Moser, Mallory Jakubiak, advisor Bethany Wheeler and Ariel Kissel, pose in front of the Konica Minolta building with the T / Becky Gaspord and Ariel Kissel

“Students are pushing new ideas, and industry folks are genuinely interested. It feels collaborative, not just competitive,” said TAGA President Birgit Plautz, adding that TAGA helps “connect new ideas with what’s actually happening in the industry,” creating opportunities for student work to influence real-world practices.

TAGA Student Choice Award team members were:

Mallory Jakubiak, of Shakopee, Minnesota
Red Moser, of Manitowoc
Trevor Anderson, of Menomonie
Ariel Kissel, of Neenah
Theo Cerny, of Maple Grove, Minnesota
Brynn Hessel, of South Range

“Competitions like these are so beneficial for students to participate in because their open-ended structure leaves a lot of room for the students to decide what direction to take the projects. This allows them the flexibility to make something they are really passionate about and something they can be really proud of,” said graphic communications Program Director Bethany Wheeler.

Other participating student chapters were from Ball State University, California Polytechnic State University, Clemson University, Ferris State University, Illinois State University, Rochester Institute of Technology and Toronto Metropolitan University.

TAGA’s Vice President of Education Celeste Calkins noted, “These students are the future of this industry,” highlighting the importance of providing opportunities for them to grow, connect and exchange ideas.

‘Mail Across Minneapolis’ winning design

During the ideation phase, the team chose to focus on mail in general, noting different types of mail through the iconography in their journal publication, including letters, bills, postcards, newspapers, packages and more.

Becky Gaspord, Ariel Kissel, Mallory Jakubiak, Theodore Cerny, Sam Mireles-Melgarejo and Red Moser at Mittera / Ariel Kissel

“We wanted our journal publication to look like a letter arriving in the mail. We cut a sleeve that looked like an envelope to hold the journal and added small details such as a cut-out window to see the address and recipient on the back, like you would an actual letter,” said Kissel, who will serve as ��Ͽ� Polytechnic TAGA chapter president in 2027-28 during her senior year.

Working in various labs across campus, the team used Adobe Illustrator and InDesign in the GCOM computer labs. They designed and cut out stamps according to official U.S. stamp regulations and requirements and made an ink stamp for the envelope, like the United States Postal Service would place on mail and packages. They used the 3D Printing Lab to make wax seals, as well as the Packaging Lab to cut out the mailboxes and assemble them using an industrial glue gun.

“We decided our overall package design would be a mailbox. We made more stickers to place on the outside to decorate, as someone might actually do to customize their own mailbox, and added a small detail of the address. We wrote ‘2026’ as though it were the house number and made the street name ‘��Ͽ� Street,’” Kissel said.

TAGA student tour Mittera / Ariel Kissel

Kissel thinks working in a cross-disciplinary team was really helpful. “We were able to bounce ideas off of each other and build on them as we worked. When we ran into issues, which we did quite often through the process, we found our best method was to adjust what we were doing and try again,” she said.

A big issue the team faced was the splitting of the spines of the journal. They initially planned on printing two journals on one block, binding them, and then splitting them in half when trimming the blocks. “Every time we split the block in half, the pressure being applied by the blade would cause the spine to split,” Kissel explained. “As a team, we bounced off ideas of possible solutions, and when we had something we thought might work, we gave it a try. We repeated the process until we found a solution.”

��Ͽ� Polytechnic’s TAGA chapter toured multiple facilities while in Chicago for the award watch party, including Mittera, Specialty Print Communications and Konica Minolta.

TAGA student tour Mittera / Ariel Kissel

This was the chapter’s first time in a decade entering the TAGA competition. “It’s been an extremely rewarding experience to assemble a team of students so passionate about showing off their skills and abilities by competing in this competition. The pieces they produced were incredible, and I couldn’t be prouder of the projects they were able to complete,” Wheeler said. “I’m thrilled to guide this team through a successful competition after many years without a TAGA chapter. I know our projects and team will continue to grow and dazzle the TAGA judges as we recruit more students and strive to showcase the very best of what we do at Stout.”

Kissel was extremely proud to be able to show the team’s work to the other competing chapters. “I was even more proud to be a part of the team to bring home an award after a 10-year hiatus! It was an honor to work with such talented designers,” she said.

Kissel has a summer internship at OEC Graphics, in Oshkosh, helping with quality checks on label and carton designs for BP Lubricants products.

“The biggest lesson I’ve been able to apply so far is to work with my team. I’m only one person, and I can really only do so much,” she said. “The same goes for the rest of my peers on the team. We each are given our positions to ensure things run smoothly and efficiently. By working all together, we really are a well-oiled machine (pun intended).”

TAGA student chapters play an important role in shaping how students understand the graphic communications industry and their place within it. Participation in the competition exposes students to current trends, emerging technologies, and evolving industry needs. The experience also underscores the role of research in driving innovation, encouraging students to think beyond individual projects and consider broader industry applications.

��Ͽ� Polytechnic’s graphic communications program blends design, technology and business strategy to prepare students for careers in printing, packaging, publishing, and related industries, emphasizing the university’s applied learning and industry collaboration.

With an average starting salary of $50,000, 100% of recent graphic communications graduates are employed or furthering their education within six months of graduation, according to Career Services’ annual First Destination Report.

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Graphic design, graphic communications students win international TAGA Student Choice Award

Interdisciplinary team of graphic communications, graphic media, print management students’ ‘Mail Across Minneapolis’ celebrates print media

GCOM program receives grants to advance student experience, industry engagement

Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation supports lab, equipment upgrades, professional development opportunities

University and partners continue to illuminate opportunities through graphic communications, design programs

��Ͽ� M.F.A. design student Jake Cater creates winning design for chancellor's seasonal greeting card

Interdisciplinary team of graphic communications, graphic media, print management students’ ‘Mail Across Minneapolis’ celebrates print media GCOM, TAGA Student Choice Award team

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GCOM program receives grants to advance student experience, industry engagement

goersab — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 12:30:00 +0000

GCOM program receives grants to advance student experience, industry engagementgoersab September 3, 2025

Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation supports lab, equipment upgrades, professional development opportunities

Abbey Goers Bethany Wheeler

��Ͽ�’s graphic communications program has received three targeted grants from the Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation (PGSF) totaling $13,000, part of a national initiative that awarded $535,000 in scholarships and educational support to students and institutions across the country for the 2025-26 academic year.

The grants will directly support ��Ͽ� graphic communications students and students in related majors pursuing the graphic media and print management minor through upgraded lab equipment, enhanced learning experiences and professional development opportunities:

Color Management Lab Equipment: New tools will be added to the Color and Quality course, including a Farnsworth Munsell 100 Hue Test, a light booth, monitor calibration devices and a spectrometer. These additions will strengthen students’ understanding of color perception and measurement in professional environments.
TAGA Student Chapter Funding: ��Ͽ�’s student chapter of the Technical Association of the Graphic Arts (TAGA) will receive funding for travel to participate in the annual TAGA Technical Conference and Student Competition. Students on the collaborative cross-disciplinary team will compete in categories including package production, technical paper publication, technology review, publication production, journal design, T-shirt design and production, and website design. The team will compete with TAGA chapters at other universities all over the world for the coveted Kipphan Cup.
PRINTING United Expo Travel Support: Five students will receive partial scholarships to attend PRINTING United Expo, the largest printing industry event in North America. The expo offers exposure to cutting-edge technologies and networking opportunities with professionals across the graphic communications field. This opportunity will allow students to participate in Guided Show Floor and booth tours, with exhibitors showcasing cutting-edge equipment, software, and applications across packaging, commercial print, apparel decoration, and wide-format graphics, as well as the opportunity to speak directly with professionals, explore career paths and learn about trends shaping the future of print. Students will also attend special events and network 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 the grants awarded above, PGSF has supported numerous students in the B.S. graphic communications program and graphic media and print management minor with scholarships based on their academic activity: Red Moser, Allison Zwettler, Samuel Huss, Erika Jackett, Udit Patel and Cali Scholes were selected by the PGFS Board of Directors for the 2023-26 school years.

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“��Ͽ� 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.

��Ͽ�’s graphic communications program blends design, technology and business strategy to prepare students for careers in printing, packaging, publishing and related industries. The program is part of the university’s Polytechnic Advantage, emphasizing applied learning and industry collaboration.

At ��Ͽ�, 100% of recent graphic communications graduates are employed or furthering their education within six months of graduation, with an average starting salary of $51,000, according to Career Services’ annual First Destination Report.

About the Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation

PGSF awarded scholarships to 144 students attending 68 institutions nationwide this school year. In addition to scholarships, the foundation supports students through educational grants and design contests.

“Without a doubt, the work we do changes and enriches lives,” said Debbie Bohan, PGSF administrative director.

For more information on PGSF, visit pgsf.org.

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Graphic design, graphic communications students win international TAGA Student Choice Award

Interdisciplinary team of graphic communications, graphic media, print management students’ ‘Mail Across Minneapolis’ celebrates print media

GCOM program receives grants to advance student experience, industry engagement

Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation supports lab, equipment upgrades, professional development opportunities

University and partners continue to illuminate opportunities through graphic communications, design programs

��Ͽ� M.F.A. design student Jake Cater creates winning design for chancellor's seasonal greeting card

Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation supports lab, equipment upgrades, professional development opportunities Graphic Communications lab

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University and partners continue to illuminate opportunities through graphic communications, design programs

goersab — Thu, 21 Dec 2023 15:00:00 +0000

University and partners continue to illuminate opportunities through graphic communications, design programsgoersab December 21, 2023

��Ͽ� M.F.A. design student Jake Cater creates winning design for chancellor's seasonal greeting card

Abbey Goers

With skilled graphic communications and design professionals in high demand across the world, the reputation of ��Ͽ�’s Bachelor of Science in graphic communications and design programs makes them well-positioned to fill industry demands.

“That demand is especially strong in the Midwest because of strong print centers in the Fox Valley, Chicago and Minneapolis,” said Program Director Andrew Delong of the graphic communications industry. “Because of the strong demand for qualified grads, industry and organizations are offering scholarships to those pursuing a degree in graphic communications, including from the Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation.”

Given its emphasis on industry partnerships and collaboration, ��Ͽ� students in these disciplines have access to unique applied learning experiences that strengthen their workforce readiness even before graduation, and it shows.

Graphic communications graduates have a 100% employment rate, as do graduates of M.F.A. in design, according to Career Services’ First Destination Report.

Seasonal card designer M.F.A. design student Jake Cater and Chancellor Katherine Frank admire the card design at Spectra Print / ��Ͽ�

As an undergraduate student at ��Ͽ�, Jake Cater found that he loved graphic communications. Having been a creator his whole life, he wanted to have a hands-on-part in every step of the creative process, something which he knew ��Ͽ� offered through its polytechnic model.

Cater turned his interests into a degree and graduated from ��Ͽ� in 2021 with a bachelor’s in technology education and a minor in graphic media and print management, which helped him stay current with the industry.

He’s now a graphic communications instructor, teaching graphic design and photography at Sheboygan North High School and is continuing his creative passions as an online M.F.A. design student, with an emphasis in graphic and product design.

So, when ��Ͽ�’s Marketing Communications department announced a competition for students to design a seasonal greeting card for Chancellor Katherine Frank, Cater jumped at the opportunity to showcase his graphic and design talents.

“I love the polytechnic educational model and ��Ͽ�'s branding, so a chance to design something for them was a huge opportunity,” Cater said. “��Ͽ� grows more esteemed in my mind as time goes by. It is an institution of higher education of interdisciplinary and hands-on learning at an affordable cost. It is ahead of its time.”

Spectra sales representative Scott Hoffmann, Chancellor Katherine Frank and Jake Cater with a printed sheet of seasonal cards / ��Ͽ�

“With the largest public School of Art and Design in the Upper Midwest, ��Ͽ� offers a huge student talent pool of more than 1,300 students. Add the talent of students in graphic communications, digital marketing and other degrees, and a student competition was the natural option to showcase their talent,” Frank said.

Cater, who was awarded $250 for his design, wanted his design to involve an individual interacting with something unique, “as if a project was just completed,” he said. “I wanted to show what a student is capable of bringing to the table.”

His artist's statement captures his sentiment and visual design:

“As an artist, I’m fascinated by how we physically engage with design, so hands play a role in a lot of my work. For this project, I wanted to explore how an individual might interact with Stout’s “S” logo as a manifestation of innovation through education. I started thinking about traditional technology symbols, like light bulbs, and that transformed into ideas around neon light – something more unique, something the subject had ‘turned on.’ Stout’s polytechnic model is a purposeful one. It trains us to take our ingenuity, fascination and talent and to create something innovative and real. I wanted the individual’s interaction with the logo to recognize both the path toward that end while illuminating the future yet to come.”

Designs were submitted by graphic designers, photographers and illustrators.

“What really stood out about Jake's design was his ability to visually articulate Stout's spirit of applied learning, innovation and discovery, and when we read his accompanying statement, it was clear his submission reflected his relationship with Stout,” Frank said.

Hands-on from start to finish

The design of the chancellor’s seasonal card was only one piece of the puzzle. The next step was to print, cut, fold and mail the card. Cater’s final design was sent to the graphic communications experts at Spectra Print in Stevens Point, a one-stop print shop, offering a full range of services.

Cater and Frank were invited by Spectra owners, siblings Eric and Hans Hofmeister and Heidi Okray, to see the print production process in action.

They were joined by university staff and alumni Production Manager Cheryl Keyes, 1992 industrial technology, graphic arts management; and Printing Manager and graphic communications Lecturer Ryan Dolan, 2016 graphic communications management; as well as members of the Marketing Communications team.

Cheryl Keyes, Eric Hofmeister, Jake Cater and Chancellor Katherine Frank view the printing of the seasonal cards / ��Ͽ�

“Part of what made this project unique was our ability to join Jake at Spectra Print as his design came off the press. You will find Stout alumni working in design and print production throughout the country, and you will find both at Spectra. It was wonderful to join Jake and see that working relationship in action,” Frank said.

Among Spectra’s employees are five ��Ͽ� alumni:

Kristy Boutain, 1999 graphic communications. She works in customer service and has been at Spectra for eight years.
Jayne Fuehrer, 1990 graphic design. She is a designer with more than 31 years at the company.
Scott Hoffmann, 1989 industrial technology, graphic arts. He is a sales representative with more than 33 years in the print industry.
Kay Rasmussen, 2003 graphic design. She has been a designer with Spectra for 16 years.
Michael Wendt, 1983 graphic communications management. He is a sales representative with nearly 40 years in the print industry.

Eric, Hans, Heidi and Hoffmann gave Cater and ��Ͽ� staff a full tour of their facilities during their visit.

“This was an exciting project for us,” Eric said. “We were glad to be a part of it.”

Chancellor Katherine Frank and Spectra owner Eric Hofmeister / ��Ͽ�

The cards were printed on a Komori Lithrone eight-color perfector printing press, capable of printing 15,000 sheets of paper per hour. The sheets are 25 inches by 38 inches, and 10 cards were printed per sheet, totaling 40 sheets. The job was printed in less than one minute.

During that minute, standing on the press platform and watching the cards turn from a digital to a physical reality, Cater’s and Frank’s excitement matched the industrial roar of the near-semi-trailer-long printer.

The Komori eight-color press uses UV ink. A chemical reaction caused by a strikethrough spot varnish over the UV coating allowed for a shine to make the “S” logo pop on the card.

“It makes the lighting effect on the card pop even more,” Cater said. “When talking about the possibility of the embellishment with the MarCom designers, I could see it in my mind. Seeing it on the actual printed cards, it elevates the design 100%.”

Although Cater has experience in the printing process, including working with ��Ͽ�’s two-plate lithography press, the visit to Spectra was his first time seeing the process on such a large scale.

“You don’t understand what it means to have this opportunity. It’s very cool,” Cater said.

Cater wants his students to have hands-on experiences in the printing process, as well, and is building connections with print companies in the Sheboygan area in hopes of enhancing their learning experiences.

��Ͽ� and Spectra staff and alumni with Chancellor Katherine Frank and Spectra owners Eric Hofmeister, Hans Hofmeister and Heidi Okray / ��Ͽ�

An ambitious maker, involved in every step of the process

Cater’s first printing experiences were in 2014 in his high school technology education classes at Sevastopol High School, in Door County. He ran offset lithography printers and produced two-color business cards and athletics programs.

“I would apply the ink, prep the machine, check color and quality as it ran, and clean the machine once the run was over,” he said.

He also learned different software and designed woodworking projects. He loved the versatility of the work, being a part of every step of the process and that it offered a continuation of learning.

“I also knew of the demand for the position in the workforce,” he said. “��Ͽ� was one of the only schools offering a technology education program, and I heard it was the best. Both my high school principal and one of my technology education teachers had attended ��Ͽ� for tech ed. My grandfather even went for the same degree in the early 1970s. He even stayed in the same dorm as me. It felt right.”

When he began teaching at Sheboygan North, he gained confidence in his craft.

“I needed more though,” he said. “I wanted to learn more about design, and being a top designer and professor is my ultimate goal. I knew ��Ͽ�’s arts programs were fantastic, as were the companies that I saw classmates getting jobs at, such as MasterCraft and Milwaukee Tool. I later found out that graduates have gone onto top global companies, such as Apple and DreamWorks.”

Jake Cater witnessing his seasonal card design being printed on the Komori eight-color press / ��Ͽ�

After talking with M.F.A. design program director and Professor Erik Evensen to learn more about the degree and opportunities it offered, Cater decided to apply.

“I’m excited to see where the future takes me,” he said.

Cater has proven himself to be a “highly ambitious maker with a lot of drive and passion,” Evensen said. “Jake brings this can-do spirit and curiosity to everything he does, which undoubtedly makes him an excellent teacher and a promising creative director.”

��Ͽ�’s M.F.A. in design, as well as the bachelor program in graphic design and interactive media, focus on the creative end of the print process, while the production end is covered by the graphic communications program.

On top of teaching, Cater is also co-owner with ��Ͽ� alum Rex Meikle of Door Born, a lifestyle and clothing brand inspired by the natural beauty of Door County. Meikle received his technology education degree in spring 2023 and is a technology education teacher at Kohler High School.

They co-founded Door Born in 2020 and are learning the ins and outs of sales, design, printing, online ecommerce development, and general business, among other things. From design to print, they are involved in every step of the process.

Jake Cater is co-owner of Door Born, with ��Ͽ� alum Rex Meikle / Jake Cater

“We work tirelessly to ensure that our colors meet our high expectations whether it is managing color on the screen, at the printer, or on the heat press as our design blends into our garments,” Cater said.

“We take pride in our ability to fully understand the printing process before we even begin our design work. We want to know our limitations and then we work to maximize our reach, while creating something beautiful and representative of our vision,” he added.

Graphic communications at ��Ͽ�

��Ͽ�’s graphic communications students participate in international industry conventions, such as Print United and Technical Association Graphic Arts Conference; are invited to industry sponsored international print competitions; and can join Stout Typographical Society student organization.

“Our industry partners help strengthen our students’ experiences by providing guest lecturers, serving on our Program Advisory Committee, inviting our students and student groups in for print facility tours and providing co-op placements,” Delong said.

The program curriculum was modified recently to bring the focus back to print and print management, while removing some of the cross-media components. In the graphic communications campus labs, students gain an understanding of industry-used printing processes, with exposure to:

Lithography
Flexography
Screen printing
Digital output
Color management
Large format print production
Digital printing on 3D objects
Finishing techniques, including perfect binding

Our graduates pursue challenging and rewarding careers in business, digital imagery, marketing, digital technologies, media and graphics. / ��Ͽ�

“We have also added a three-part Career Immersion Experience Seminar to our curriculum. The first of these three, one credit courses is taken prior to a student’s first co-op, the second during their first co-op and the third during their final co-op. Each seminar has separate and timely objectives aimed to prepare the student for their professional career,” Delong said.

Graphic communications is part of the Art, Design and Graphics career cluster at ��Ͽ�, which includes six Bachelor of Fine Arts and three Bachelor of Science degrees focused on preparing students for careers in printing, web, animation, fashion, textiles, graphics, design, sculpture, painting and other artistic pursuits. The M.F.A. design program rests within the School of Art and Design.

Spectra Print: a one-stop shop and family business

Originally named Valley Sales Company, Spectra Print is a family business. It was founded in 1930 by Oscar Hofmeister – Eric’s, Hans’ and Heidi’s grandfather – who started it in the basement of his house, selling and distributing trading stamps.

Spectra has vastly expanded its services and clientele since then, with customers across the country. Along with printing Chancellor Frank’s seasonal cards, it also recently printed ��Ͽ�’s 2023 Outlook alumni magazine.

Its services include printing, designing, marketing, binding and finishing, mailing and fulfillment, prepress for proofing and color checking, and publishing.

The Komori eight-color press runs projects around the clock. Spectra has a larger web press and three smaller web presses for two-color print jobs, and five Ricoh presses for digital prints.

Spectra was the first company in North America to install the new Muller Martini Primera PRO saddle stitcher. Saddle stitching is a popular book-binding method. The Primero PRO offers an automated method to collate, fold and staple printed sheets into a booklet or magazine, for example.

“From large jobs to small jobs, everything adds up,” Eric said. “Everything is important. We’re here to make our customers happy.”

“They’ve got a lot here,” Cater added. “From start to finish, they can do it all.”

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��Ͽ� M.F.A. design student Jake Cater creates winning design for chancellor's seasonal greeting card Spectra Holiday Card Printing

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Hero Caption: M.F.A. design student Jake Cater's design for Chancellor Katherine Frank's seasonal card, printed at Spectra Print in Stevens Point.

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Total package: Students earn two firsts, third in international sustainability challenges

polingj — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 18:33:33 +0000

Total package: Students earn two firsts, third in international sustainability challengespolingj November 20, 2023

Students from five majors collaborate to reimagine packaging

Is there a better way? More importantly, is there a more sustainable way?

Those were the questions at top of mind when three teams of ��Ͽ� students entered two international, industry-sponsored packaging competitions that challenged their technical and design skills — and visions for the future.

Turns out ��Ͽ� had the whole package, winning and taking a third place recently in the Paperboard Packaging Alliance student competition in San Diego and winning the International Molded Fiber Association challenge in Scottsdale, Ariz.

They did it by creating new, sustainable solutions for three consumer products — lip balm, shampoo and a desk lamp — and through cross-collaboration via seven students from five majors, including video production, graphic communications and mechanical engineering.

Assistant Professor Kate Liu, second from left, at the PPA event with students, from left, Erika Jackett, Zach Hoffmire, Starr Gong, Ethan Myers, Lukas David and Buddy Moreno. / Contributed photo

“This competition taught us the paramount importance of and inherent creativity needed in substituting plastic product packaging with paperboard,” said Starr Gong, of Altoona, a senior in graphic design and interactive media, who was on the PPA third-place team. “It's not just a design choice but a commitment to sustainability and a greener future. The experience has heightened our awareness of the environmental impact of packaging choices in today's world.”

Ethan Myers, of Kenosha, a senior majoring in packaging who was on the winning PPA team, agreed. “Sustainability is growing more and more every day, and being able to work with it is vital to finding success in the field of packaging.”

��Ͽ� offers a minor in sustainability.

Kate Liu, assistant professor in the engineering and technology department, was the students’ adviser for both competitions. “The designs, replacing plastic packaging with paperboard while minimizing material usage and aiming for zero waste, speak volumes about the students' understanding of the pressing environmental issues we face today,” Liu said.

Lip balm packaged in sustainable paperboard, instead of plastic, garnered a ��Ͽ� student team first place in a national competition by the Paperboard Packaging Alliance. / Contributed photo

“The cross-discipline strategy to team up packaging students with graphic design and video production students proved successful. We’re super excited about the results. It is tough to make the top three in the PPA challenge because of the competition nationwide,” she added.

PPA challenge: Vision and teamwork

The PPA contest required students to design recyclable paperboard packaging for a personal care product that typically comes in plastic.

Myers, fellow packaging major Lukas David, of Johnson Creek, a senior, and Zach Hoffmire, of Kenosha, a senior majoring in video production, created paperboard packaging for lip balm. The paperboard can be peeled away from the top of the stick as it’s used and resealed with a cap.

Hoffmire created an advertising-style video as part of the challenge.

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“I feel like our design stood out because of the attention to detail. At first glance it looks gimmicky and basic, but the intricacies of the design are what make it great. Everything from the psychological tricks that allow us to control how you handle our design to the coatings that allowed us to fill it with a liquid, we really dove deep into the details,” Myers said.

“These design competitions pull in aspects from every single packaging class we take. When we are at events like this, I also feel confident in holding conversations with professionals because of how much I’ve learned from these classes,” said Myers, who won another competition earlier this year with David and Hoffmire.

“I am just blown away by what I get to do at Stout. I attend a lot of packaging conferences, and have met many people from every single packaging school in the U.S., and even some from Canada. And of all of these schools, Stout is the only one that lets their freshman get into the lab. I got more hands-on experience as a freshman than most students at other schools get as seniors,” Myers said.

Gong’s team included Buddy Moreno, of Florence, who graduated in May in packaging with a minor in sustainability, and Erika Jackett, of Port Washington, a senior majoring in graphic communications. They prototyped packaging for shampoo made from a solid bar and created a glossy paperboard display holding three round disks. They also created a video ad for the product.

Shampoo made from a bar and packaged in sustainable paperboard earned a ��Ͽ� team third place nationally in the PPA competition. / Contributed photo

“Placing third nationally was not just a personal triumph but a testament to the hard work and innovation put in by our entire team. It's an honor to see our efforts recognized on a national level,” said Gong, who was part of a campus cross-collaboration design project in 2022.

“By crafting a packaging design devoid of plastic, reducing material usage by 50% and ensuring sustainability and recyclability, we addressed the challenge in a way that aligned with today's pressing environmental concerns. The feedback we received emphasized the uniqueness and practicality of our solution,” Gong said.

Moreno agreed. “Paperboard is a thin material, but it has more strength than you would think. After attending the conference in San Diego, I have seen how far paperboard packaging can go, things that I never thought were possible,” Moreno said.

The PPA winning team earned $5,500 and the third-place team $1,650. Earlier this year, Gong and Jackett received national scholarships. ��Ͽ� also received $6,500 — $5,000 for first and $1,500 for third; the money will be used for program improvements.

California Polytechnic took second place in the PPA contest, which drew close to 90 teams from universities around the U.S. and Canada. The top three were invited to present at the PPA conference in San Diego, where their final standing was revealed.

“The emphasis on creativity, problem-solving and the encouragement to think beyond traditional boundaries prepared us to tackle real-world challenges,” Gong said.

Gong, Moreno and Jackett also received the Stout University Foundation's Jordan R. Tracy Award for their cross-disciplinary collaboration.

The ��Ͽ� team’s IMFA winning design for a desk lamp, right, uses sustainable fiberboard and is much more compact than current packaging for the product, at left. / Contributed photo

“Pairing packaging with the power of Stout's graphic design and printing capabilities, it really showed how three majors can come together and make something great — just how it would be in the real business world,” said Moreno, who was hired at Target corporate in Minneapolis as a packaging engineer after graduating.

Gong found that her graphic design courses “provided the fundamental skills that served as the backbone” for the entry. “Moreover, the focus on user experience in my coursework has proven invaluable. It's not just about creating visually appealing designs but ensuring they are practical, user-friendly and align with the needs of the audience.”

Students worked on the projects last spring outside of class time, putting in dozens of hours in the labs.

IMFA challenge: Less is more

In the IMFA competition, Myers and David teamed with Gage Rusch, of Delafield, a second-year student majoring in mechanical engineering. Teams searched the market for a packaged product weighing between five and 20 pounds that used polystyrene or other plastic material, then created new packaging using molded fiber.

��Ͽ� student Gage Rusch receives the award in Scottsdale, Ariz., from the International Molded Fiber Association for winning the student design competition. / Contributed photo

The ��Ͽ� team redesigned the BenQ desk lamp by replacing the materials for sustainability and reducing cost by reducing the size of the packaging. Their design cut the size of the lamp box by 78%, largely because molded pulp can nest, or be layered, as opposed to the existing packaging.

The team estimated that if 10 trucks were filled with the old packaging, the number could be reduced to three trucks with the new boxes. Also, 4½ times more lamps could be shelved in the same space as currently allowed in a retail outlet.

Rusch was sponsored by IMFA to attend the annual conference Oct. 4 in Scottsdale, Ariz., and present the winning design. The team also received $1,000.

Sustainable efforts at PackExpo

In September, seven packaging students along with Associate Professor Min DeGruson, the program director, participated in the PackExpo in Las Vegas.

��Ͽ� had a booth about its program sustainability efforts, and it was one of the four universities selected to display a research project, led by Liu, centered around sustainability.

Also, student Nick Harpstead, a sophomore from Plymouth, Wis., was on a team that took second place in the student Amazing Race competition. A total of 23 teams from 13 universities tried to conquer challenges in a timed event that involved nearly one million square feet of exhibit space.

��Ͽ� also offers an undergraduate program in plastics engineering. Students are researching how the plastics industry can be more sustainable, including by using more recycled materials, as they prepare for their careers.

###

Students from five majors collaborate to reimagine packaging PPA 4

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��Ͽ� students awarded competitive national scholarships for in-demand graphic communications field

goersab — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 16:52:37 +0000

��Ͽ� students awarded competitive national scholarships for in-demand graphic communications fieldgoersab August 9, 2023

Real-world experiences on and off campus prepare students for industry in need of skilled graduates

Abbey Goers

Graphic communications is a major force in the economy, averaging more than 500 companies and 10,000 employees in every state and $1.8 billion in shipments each year, according to the Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation.

“Some of the largest graphic communications-related employers worldwide are in the Midwest – in the Twin Cities, Fox Valley, Chicago, Milwaukee and Des Moines. ��Ͽ� is located centrally within this region and supplies the industry with qualified professionals,” said Chad Nyseth, graphic communications instructor and lab manager.

“��Ͽ� and other graphic communications programs nationwide can’t supply enough graduates to fill available jobs. The industry, via organizations like PGSF, is stepping up efforts to educate students about potential careers, to support students with scholarships and internships, and to partner with institutions like ��Ͽ�,” he added.

To support students planning to enter the graphic communications field, the Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded in 1956, selected six ��Ͽ� students to receive awards totaling $26,930 for the 2023-24 academic year.

Recipients are:

Sam Huss, graphic communications, West Bend
Erika Jackett, graphic communications, Hubertus
Udit Patel, graphic communications, St. Paul
Cali Scholes, graphic communications, DeForest
Starr Gong, graphic design and interactive media, Altoona
Carrigan Heinz, studio art, with a graphic media and print management minor, Mondovi

This year, PGSF received more than 1,400 applications. It awarded 155 students from 83 institutions across the U.S., with an average scholarship of more than $3,600.

“Our recipients’ awards show that ��Ͽ�’s graphic communications students are just as qualified and as worthy of recognition as students in the same major at much larger schools, like Clemson University or Cal Poly,” Nyseth said.

PGSF scholarships may be renewed for up to four years. Gong, Heinz and Scholes have been awarded multiple years.

Four ��Ͽ� students awarded national Print and Graphics scholarships

Four ��Ͽ� students are among 162 nationwide who have received renewable scholarships from the Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation.

Preparing for a career through real-world experiences

Jackett is interning this summer at Push Solutions in New Berlin, working in many departments: prepress, design, digital, large format, customer service, kit packing, the bindery, estimating and purchasing, scheduling and more.

Erika Jackett / Erika Jackett

“The graphic communications program at Stout has absolutely prepared me for this internship by providing a base of knowledge, skills and experience to help me have the most productive internship that I can,” they said.

“The internship has helped me prepare for my career by providing me with real-world experience outside of the classroom and lab, which has only expanded my knowledge and skill base.”

The scholarship will allow Jackett to focus more on their education, instead of stressing about rent and other monthly expenses. They will graduate in May 2024 and want to work in production or prepress operation.

Jackett chose graphic communications because of their interest in graphics. “I love the process of taking an idea, doing all the design and layout work, and then being able to produce something tangible. Taking things from concept to reality through print is really enticing to me,” they said.

Career paths in a lively industry

Graphic communications students learn the foundational concepts and skills that they can apply to any career in the industry, including sales and marketing, product manufacturing, direct mail operations, package printing, traditional printing and digital communication, Nyseth said.

“Students use our lab equipment to apply and reinforce classroom concepts, solve problems, create products and manage complex projects. As they progress through their courses, they are increasingly exposed to potential roles, possible occupations and industry employers. And most students are amazed by the number of available career pathways,” he added.

Starr Gong, front right, in ��Ͽ�’s Packaging Lab. / ��Ͽ�

Nyseth thinks the industry has had its work cut out for itself to dispel the notion that “print is dead.”

“Print isn’t dead. It’s different. It’s more diverse and technology driven than ever,” he said. “It’s true that there are fewer magazines and newspapers printed today, yet nearly every product we see in a store is boxed with full-color printed packaging located under full-color printed store signage, then placed in a printed shopping bag and followed up at the register with a receipt and personalized printed coupons.

“Marketers use direct mail, printed billboards, brochures and online campaigns to drive consumers into brick-and-mortar stores and onto e-commerce websites. All of the above happens because of professionals who work in careers under the graphic communications umbrella,” he added.

Graphic communications graduates have a 100% employment rate or are continuing their education within six months of graduation, according to ��Ͽ�’s Career Services First Destination report.

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Interdisciplinary team of graphic communications, graphic media, print management students’ ‘Mail Across Minneapolis’ celebrates print media

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Four ��Ͽ� students awarded national Print and Graphics scholarships

polingj — Wed, 21 Sep 2022 16:52:32 +0000

Four ��Ͽ� students awarded national Print and Graphics scholarshipspolingj September 21, 2022

Students from three majors recognized, part of 162 honored nationally

Four University of Wisconsin-Stout students are among 162 nationwide who have received renewable scholarships from the Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation.

The foundation recently announced the 2022-23 awards, which totaled a record $551,000 to students at 83 universities and colleges. More than 600 students applied.

Cali Scholes, a graphic communications major, inserts an offset printing plate into a Kodak computer-to-plate imaging device in a ��Ͽ� lab. / ��Ͽ�

PGSF offers scholarships to students interested in pursuing careers related to the graphic communications industry and provides financial assistance to industry workers seeking to further their education.

��Ͽ�’s awardees and their majors are:

Starr Gong, of Altoona, senior, graphic design and interactive media
Carrigan Heinz, of Mondovi, senior, graphic design and interactive media
Alyssa Koehler, of Amery, senior, packaging
Cali Scholes, of DeForest, junior, graphic communications.

Awards for the ��Ͽ� students averaged nearly $5,000, about $1,500 higher than the national average.

The scholarships are renewable for up to four years, providing the student maintains at least a 3.0 grade point average and is enrolled full time in a related program.

“PGSF has allowed me so much peace of mind when it comes to affording school,” Scholes said. “That’s left more room for me to take opportunities that I normally wouldn’t have and to explore the graphic communications major at ��Ͽ� beyond what I could have ever imagined.”

Applications for 2023-24 scholarships open in November 2022.

###

Four ��Ͽ� students are among 162 nationwide who have received renewable scholarships from the Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation. Cali Scholes

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Research and involvement expected to propel their careers and industry connections

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Students collaborate to design, package gifts for commemorative university event

goersab — Tue, 24 May 2022 15:51:24 +0000

Students collaborate to design, package gifts for commemorative university eventgoersab May 24, 2022

Porcelain mugs to be given to partners, guests at Chancellor Frank’s fall investiture

Abbey Goers

Over the next several months, a team of ��Ͽ� faculty and students will be working in an unfamiliar lab space to create gifts that will be handed out at a special event this fall.

Industrial design Program Director Jennifer Astwood is guiding three students as they prepare 400 Made at ��Ͽ� porcelain mugs for industry partners and guests attending Chancellor Katherine Frank’s investiture ceremony on Friday, Oct. 14.

Astwood is joined by sophomores Amelia Dobbratz, of Fond du Lac; and Jordan Jentsch, of West Bend; as well as Leo Lickfold, of Shakopee, Minn., who graduated in May.

Each student presented the chancellor with two mug prototypes, with the idea that one from each would be produced. However, Frank decided they should execute both of Lickfold’s designs, so four mugs will be presented at the investiture.

Chancellor Katherine Frank / ��Ͽ�

Astwood’s team is collaborating with graphics and packaging faculty and students to design and produce packaging for the mugs.

“Collaboration, team-based learning, innovation and problem-solving are reflected in this project,” Frank said.

“Faculty and students from a variety of disciplines have worked together to make this project successful. I have watched our faculty use this project as a learning experience for their students and apply guidance in such a way that empowers student learning and leads to success.

“And, as occurs on a regular basis at ��Ͽ�, I have been amazed by students’ ideas, professionalism and final products,” she added. “This project has allowed me to observe how the ‘magic’ happens at ��Ͽ� both in and out of the classroom and why our students are in such high demand by employers even before they leave our university.”

Applied learning in large-scale production

Astwood and the students began to create the mugs in early April. Using a slip cast process, molds were created of the designs, and liquid porcelain was poured into the molds. When the porcelain – a specialized type of ceramic – dried, the mugs were pulled from the molds. Later, they will be fired in a kiln and glazed with versions of ��Ͽ� blue and white gloss, with the Made at ��Ͽ� logo and designers’ identifications.

Industrial design student Amelia Dobbratz / ��Ͽ�

Usually, industrial design projects are completed in the School of Art and Design’s labs in the Applied Arts Building.

However, for this project, the team headed across campus to the Harvey Hall Theatre scene shop, working backstage in a far different setting, among stacks of plywood and small workbenches, as they needed a dedicated space.

The Industrial Design Lab and Ceramics Studio were in use, and as no theater productions were scheduled, the scene shop fit their needs.

This is the second time Astwood has led a large-scale porcelain pour for a university event. In 2019, she and five industrial design students created about 450 mugs for industry and education partners at the Polytechnic Summit and a WiSys symposium held on campus.

Made at ��Ͽ� mugs designed to delight visitors

University of Wisconsin-Stout is known for its hands-on learning, so giving two groups of conference attendees a homemade gift seemed like a natural fit.

The designs for the investiture will be more consistent than previously, through a controlled and designed venture, Astwood explained.

“The students’ designs are more complicated this round. And with an executed vision approved by the chancellor, it is awesome in letting the students project their own vision and strengths in the process,” she said.

Dobbratz, Jentsch and Lickfold designed mugs with different themes based on their interests and ��Ͽ�’s mission.

“Their designs tell the story of the university,” Astwood said.

Industrial design student Leo Lickfold and Program Director Jennifer Astwood / ��Ͽ�

Lickfold wanted his designs to have a minimalistic look and comfortable fit – one features a sturdy handle and the other is asymmetrical for easy gripping. He spent two hours designing his models on the computer and then built them with a 3D printer, which took 17 to 18 hours to print.

“In industrial design, I get to ask, ‘Why is it this way – why can’t it be something else?’ I wanted to challenge the form of what a mug could be and let the form tell the story,” Lickfold said.

“Stout has a different way of teaching in its polytechnic model. Our ideas are pushed from first ideation to 16th step, and the instructors believe we’re more than we think we can be,” he added.

Dobbratz and Jentsch hand-lathed their initial models, then hand-carved and attached handles to their mugs, taking about eight iterations to perfect their designs.

Dobbratz’s mug represents ��Ͽ�’s polytechnic roots, combined with art and design, she said. With an impression of a flame curling around the mug, representing the three tenets of collaboration, career focus and applied learning, it also represents Blue Devil athletics.

Industrial design student Jordan Jentsch / Jennifer Astwood

Jentsch’s mug has a travel-cup style and ergonomic handle made to fit in any cup holder and an industrial-looking form, as she wanted it to appeal to industrial engineers.

“STEM is a big component of the university,” she said.

“My mug’s form is symmetrical, basic and geometric. It speaks to the perfection of math and science. Industrial design gives us collaboration experience we can bring forward into our careers. It pushes us to think analytically. It’s a combination of math, graphic design, packaging and marketing.”

Dobbratz agreed. “Industrial design includes all aspects of programs at Stout. We’re in the School of Art and Design, but we have engineering experience too.”

One round of mugs has been bisque fired – the process which strengthens ceramics in preparation for glazing. This summer, Astwood will work with two more industrial design students – Maggie DeChant of Tomah and Lauren Jaunich of Delano, Minn. – to cast, bisque and glaze the rest of the mugs in preparation for packaging.

Collaboration across four programs for finished product

Astwood’s team is working with Associate Professor of packaging Min DeGruson and Chad Nyseth, graphic communications instructor and lab manager. They supervised seven students who developed three packages to adequately protect the mugs and designed graphics to showcase the products.

Head of Staff Kristi Krimpelbein / ��Ͽ�

Head of Staff Kristi Krimpelbein, who is helping to coordinate the investiture events, believes the collaborative approach allows students and faculty to work across disciplines to create a finished product.

“The project provides students an applied learning opportunity to work through all phases of the process. It is a tangible way to demonstrate ��Ͽ�’s polytechnic mission,” she said.

Four graphic communications seniors in their capstone course – Grant Dejno, of Neenah; Kayla Peplinski, of Amherst; Matthew Smith, of Waterford; and Bailey Tobiason of Anoka, Minn., met with packaging students Abbey Dahlseng, of Stevens Point, and Ben Lindgren, of Medford; and graphic design and interactive media student Starr Gong, of Altoona, to brainstorm ideas.

“Our four programs of study overlap in a number of ways, so the chancellor’s investiture mug project allowed students from multiple programs to work side by side to apply their specialized knowledge and skills to a project, just as they would in an industry setting,” Nyseth said.

“All of the students came away with a new appreciation for their peers’ contributions. Students in technical disciplines learned from students in artistic disciplines and vice versa and now have a better understanding of how aesthetics and engineering must come together to both showcase and protect any packaged item,” he added.

After seeing prototypes of the mugs, Dahlseng and Lindgren designed packaging structures in the Packaging Lab, using ArtiosCAD Packaging Software donated by industry partners. Gong designed the graphics, adhering to the university’s branding guidelines, using the set color palette and typeface, as well as the Made at ��Ͽ� logo.

Associate Professor Min DeGruson, packaging students Ben Lindgren and Abbey Dahlseng and GDIM student Starr Gong assemble packages for the porcelain mugs in the Packaging Lab. / ��Ͽ�

The team went through at least five packaging and four graphics ideations before deciding on three models.

“I wanted to create something new and different by playing with the existing guidelines while remaining consistent,” Gong said. “The graphics look like Stout.”

She used patterns and gradients to match the feel of Dobbratz’s and Jentsch’s mugs and made the logo more prominent on Lickfold’s packaging graphics, as she enjoys working with typography.

Using the GCOM lab’s large-format UV inkjet printer, the GCOM students printed several packaging prototypes, which Dahlseng and Lindgren then cut on a Kongsberg digital cutting table in the Packaging Lab and then folded and assembled the packages.

Packaging students Abbey Dahlseng and Ben Lindgren at the Kongsberg digital cutting table / ��Ͽ�

“Being able to work in the Packaging Lab, we’re able to have instant feedback. We can design and cut a package and see if it will work right away,” Lindgren said.

“It’s more efficient and beneficial to be here learning and to be able to do it ourselves versus having to go off campus,” Dahlseng added. “Within 10 minutes, we can edit a package using the software and cut it on the machine. It streamlines the process.”

After a meeting with Frank, minor artistic and structural changes were made, and the finalized packages were printed, taking approximately 12 hours. Every student enrolled in the GCOM capstone course helped to meet the end-of-semester delivery date, Nyseth said.

His students used skills related to printing large-format items such as signage and billboards, and product package printing – growing markets in the industry, he added. They also applied color management skills to ensure that the packages reflected the intended colors.

DeGruson also worked with Astwood on the Polytechnic Summit and WiSys symposium project in 2019, when the focus of the package was to protect the mugs for international traveling.

“This time, our focus shifted to design a package and opening experience to provide Chancellor Frank the opportunity to tell the story behind the project and ��Ͽ�’s polytechnic mission while she hands the gift to her guests,” DeGruson said.

“Team communication and collaboration are so important,” Gong said. “This has been a meaningful experience, and we’re proud to make a product that represents our school.”

The Chancellor’s Office is helping to cover the cost of making the mugs, including materials and faculty and student time in the labs.

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All Made at Stout News

Students collaborate to design, package gifts for commemorative university event

Porcelain mugs to be given to partners, guests at Chancellor Frank’s fall investiture

Made at ��Ͽ� door pullers part of student health push

��Ͽ�'s commitment to health and safety this fall includes something out of the ordinary, a narrow, molded plastic tool.

Made at ��Ͽ� mugs designed to delight visitors

University of Wisconsin-Stout is known for its hands-on learning, so giving two groups of conference attendees a homemade gift seemed like a natural fit.

Porcelain mugs to be given to partners, guests at Chancellor Frank’s fall investiture madeatstout_investituremugs_heroimage_2.jpg

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Hero Caption: Industrial design student Jordan Jentsch pours liquid porcelain into a form, using a slip cast process to produce mugs for the chancellor's investiture ceremony.

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Three bachelor’s degrees in four years — no problem for motivated, first-generation student

polingj — Thu, 20 May 2021 20:44:16 +0000

Three bachelor’s degrees in four years — no problem for motivated, first-generation studentpolingj May 20, 2021

Gardiner is using her new communications and marketing skills to expand part-time photography business into career

Abi Gardiner became the first in her family to receive a bachelor’s degree when she graduated May 8 from University of Wisconsin-Stout.

Beyond the distinction of being a first-generation graduate, Gardiner, of DeForest, achieved something else that anyone would be hard-pressed to match: She finished three degrees at the same time.

Plus, she did it in four years — the standard time most students take to get one bachelor’s.

With degrees in graphic communications, digital marketing technology and information and communication technologies, Gardiner surprised even herself.

Abi Gardiner earned three bachelor’s degrees from ��Ͽ� in four years. / Photo by Abigail Ann Photography

“It’s surreal to graduate with three bachelor's degrees,” she said. “What got me through it were the amazing people I've met at ��Ͽ� and the support I've had. Of course, I faced many long nights.”

Along with full credit loads or more each semester, Gardiner took summer and Winterm courses, and she tested out of several courses. She earned 154 credits, about 30 more than the average needed for one bachelor’s degree, and made the Dean’s List every year.

She came to ��Ͽ� originally for graphic communications, but she saw the opportunity to do more with her skills and interests. She also earned a minor in business administration.

“I was wanting more education on digital marketing as I started to learn the direction I wanted to take. That's what led me to add my second major,” she said.

“Testing out of courses allowed me to free up time to take additional courses I was interested in, including several photo studio classes and sign language. These are both areas that I was super passionate about, as I've always wanted to learn sign language and I have done photography for years.”

Abi Gardiner, of DeForest, plans to put her three diplomas from ��Ͽ� to good use in her wedding and portrait photography business in the Twin Cities. / Photo by Abigail Ann Photography

Gardiner credited the support and advice from Shaun Dudek, recently retired associate professor from the graphic communications program, for helping her succeed.

“Abi is an outstanding student with a great passion for learning and also for assisting others. She assisted in our labs and as a mentor with her work on campus,” Dudek said. “The GCOM coursework allows students to expand their educational focus by offering a grouping of credits that, if selected properly, could culminate into a minor degree. Abi selected to remain on campus an extra year to earn the extra credits not for the minors but to complete the two additional as majors.”

Gardiner worked in the GCOM labs her first and third years and also worked in University Housing as a hall manager — while continuing to operate a business she started in high school, Abi Jane Photography, in DeForest, near Madison.

“I also found an amazing group of people while working for University Housing, who have become lifelong friends,” she said.

That’s not all. She received 10 scholarships and the Outstanding Co-op Student of the Year Award; was in Photo Club and the Academic Honors Society; and volunteered at the Dunn County Humane Society.

Gardiner graduated with honors.

With three degrees in hand, she has moved Abi Jane Photography to the Twin Cities and turned it into a full-time job. She does wedding and portrait photography, but she plans to do more, such as support and help educate other aspiring photographers and small business owners.

“I also do social media and marketing consulting with my business for other small businesses. This was not an easy decision and definitely scary, but I've had amazing support and I plan on utilizing what I've learned from my time at ��Ͽ� toward my business,” she said.

And that’s a lot. “Marketing, management, business and project management, technology, website development, workflows, and more!” she said.

###

Abi Gardiner became the first in her family to receive a bachelor’s degree when she graduated May 8 from ��Ͽ�. Abi Gardiner 1

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Graphic communications students take second in printing competition

powersp — Wed, 27 May 2020 13:36:53 +0000

Graphic communications students take second in printing competitionpowersp May 27, 2020

Team creates branding, promotional materials for Chippewa Falls company

A team of University of Wisconsin-Stout graphic communications students took second place in the international Phoenix Challenge College Competition on May 2.

The students virtually presented their small business client projects, which required flexographic printed materials to support a set of objectives. The competition was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Teams were judged on presentation, research, graphics, concept and execution.

Flexographic printing is a high-tech specialty printing process widely used by the label and food-packaging industries to print food-product labels, bags, pouches, boxes and wraps that consumers see on nearly every grocery store shelf.

The ��Ͽ� project helped brand and promote Blaeser Farms of Chippewa Falls. Owned by Josh and Ashley Blaeser, it’s a sustainable farm that raises grass-fed cattle and sells beef.

“We had a very good presentation,” said Matt Smith, of Bristol, a sophomore. “The judges said this was one of the closest competitions they ever had. There are quite a few schools who do the competition as a class. We do this as an extracurricular activity.”

First place went to a team from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, Calif.

The products, all custom-created for Blaeser Farms, included an FDA-compliant label for packaged meat, a reclosable corrugated carton for meat products and a resealable plastic food pouch.

“We’re proud of the products we created,” said team member Julia Otten, of Madison, a junior at ��Ͽ�.

Chad Nyseth, graphic communications lab manager and instructional specialist, said he was pleased with the students’ achievement.

“I’m especially proud that our students did not even think of quitting when the COVID-19 situation arose — several schools elected to drop out of the competition this year,” Nyseth noted. “Our students continued working via Microsoft Teams and Zoom platforms, interfacing with industry partners, creating their contest materials, rehearsing for the competition and ultimately presenting it on May 2.”

Josh Blaeser liked the designs and enjoyed working with the students. “They used our brand colors and had some great creativity in helping create packaging ideas,” he noted. “The shipping box looks amazing. The box is very unique and creates a very strong brand in its appearance.”

The Blaesers plan to use the boxes to start shipping their products to other states. “Working with the students was great,” Josh Blaeser said. “We had them over for a farm meal and toured the farm. They are very creative individuals with a strong future ahead of them.”

Members of the ��Ͽ� team also included senior Nikolas Thomas, St. Paul; junior Molly Perkins, Brookfield; and sophomore Eli Dupslaff, Harris, Minn.

Last year ��Ͽ� won the competition. Smith was part of that team. In 2018, ��Ͽ�’s team earned the best research award.

The intent of the Phoenix Challenge Competition is to engage college-level students in creatively solving an industry-relevant flexographic problem that would allow them to practice and showcase their research, problem-solving, design and print production skills. The goal is to inspire academic programs to grow and improve their level of instruction and research.

Bettlyyn Krafft, chair of the Phoenix Challenge Foundation, said she enjoys the competition and watching students thrive. “I continue to be inspired, impressed and frankly just blown away by the college competition,” she said in a news release. “The students take it up several notches every year. This year, with all the difficulties surrounding the pandemic, these students went even further above and beyond.”

Smith said he loves his major because it allows him to work with clients and take ideas or concepts and create a product for them. “We get to speak with industry,” he said. “We get hands-on learning.”

Otten said she became interested in graphic communications because it allows her to use her photography and marketing skills. She also finds the professors at ��Ͽ� truly care about students. “The professors want us to find our best paths,” she said. “They get to know each of us and (give us) the most opportunity to find our interests. I could not be happier with the education I’ve received at ��Ͽ�. I feel really prepared for the next step of my career.”

��Ͽ� is Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University, with a focus on applied learning, collaboration with business and industry, and career outcomes.

###

Photos

Josh Blaeser, owner of Blaeser Farms, second from right, with members of the ��Ͽ� Phoenix Challenge Competition Molly Perkins, at left, Nikolas Thomas, Eli Dupslaff, Matt Smith and Julia Otten.

A box with graphics the students designed as part of the competition for Blaeser Farms of Chippewa Falls.

Students also designed a label for Blaeser Farms.

A team of University of Wisconsin-Stout graphic communications students took second place in the international Phoenix Challenge College Competition on May 2. marketingteam.jpg

University Communications

Chad Nyseth

Full Name: Chad Nyseth

Include in Directory: Yes

College: College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Management

Department: Operations & Management Department

Education:

CACHSS

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Stoutonia publishes digital edition to share student voices

powersp — Mon, 11 May 2020 19:42:27 +0000

Stoutonia publishes digital edition to share student voicespowersp May 11, 2020

Student media wants to expand video offerings

When the staff of the Stoutonia, University of Wisconsin-Stout’s student news source, found themselves unable to go to on campus and produce a physical publication because of COVID-19, they used a bit of ingenuity to make sure a digital one was available for students .

Bryce Parr, the editor-in-chief who is graduating on Saturday, May 9, with a degree in professional communication and emerging media, had staff members post news stories online to share with students while they were unable to be on campus.

However, the staff wanted to publish a full issue that would contain feature stories, opinion pieces and student voices. They published a digital issue here. The pdf file contains stories on flattening the curve of the coronavirus and top movies to binge on while in isolation, as well as news and sports stories.

“Although our campus is spread far and wide, your voices are heard on the subjects that matter to you,” the site notes.

Parr, of Mondovi, said he first found out about the potential for the university to have to switch to alternative learning methods without face-to-face classes while attending a Stout Student Association meeting. When it happened in March, he knew it was going to be difficult to publish the Stoutonia. “Everything slowed down,” he said. “We just tried to do our best.”

For him it was hard losing the energy that comes with the staff meeting, throwing out ideas and working together but the staff was able to finish the Stoutonia by meeting virtually. Parr did the editing and posting of stories from his apartment in Menomonie, as well as writing for the publication.

Rose Barker, a senior majoring in studio art, who is the digital imaging editor for the Stoutonia this school year and is running to be editor-in-chief next school year, said it was difficult not having weekly in-person meetings to talk about ideas and collaborate on stories. “After the learning curve, we all pulled through and got out some truly awesome content,” Barker said. “Our entire staff was amazing about it.”

Faculty adviser Kate Edenborg said the staff had budgeted for a spring print issue. However, they realized the issue could not be printed on campus and there would be difficulty distributing it to students.

Edenborg said she was proud of Parr’s work as the editor-in-chief. “I am very glad that Bryce was at the helm when the Stoutonia was faced with trying to keep producing content even though staff was no longer on campus and in many cases not even in town,” she said. “We gave staff the option to step down from their roles knowing that the transition to online learning was going to be a challenge for everyone. That said, all of the editorial board came back and most of the general staff. Bryce set up new systems and processes and our editors and writers continued to produce content online.”

This school year brought other changes to the Stoutonia too. Graphic communications co-op students helped redesign the Stoutonia and printed last semester’s edition. Previously, the news publication was published by an off-campus printing company.

“The graphic communications students were also planning to help redesign the newsstands around campus where the publication was available, and help with marketing the Stoutonia,” Parr said, noting he hopes future staff will continue with those plans.

“Working with the GCOM students we had more freedom to explore and do what we wanted to do with the Stoutonia,” Parr said.

Parr said having student-run media is important because it allows students to get their news from their peers rather than other sources and to share their opinions with each other.

The Stoutonia website also started featuring some videos and enhanced digital content which is something Parr hopes will continue as well. “I think it is really what the Stoutonia needs to do is to have a wide array of news instead of just written news,” Parr said. “It’s what the audience is looking for. It’s what students relate to more.”

Barker also wants to see the video offerings expand at the Stoutonia. “We have some great equipment now and continue to grow our social media presence,” Barker said. “We have such strong writers and creators that I want their good work to be able to go out to a wider group. I think peer-sourced news for campus is incredibly important and perhaps people would be able to connect a bit easier with it if we strengthened that side of things.”

Photos

Stoutonia cover

��Ͽ� student Rose Barker with a portrait of Merle M. Price, a longtime dean of students.

Kate Edenborg

When the staff of the Stoutonia, University of Wisconsin-Stout’s student news source, found themselves unable to go to on campus and produce a physical publicat bryceparrweb.jpg

University Communications

Hero Caption: Bryce Parr, editor-in-chief of the Stoutonia, looks over the latest edition. The student news source created a digital publication this semester.

Kate Edenborg

Kate Roberts Edenborg is a professor and the program director for the professional communication and emerging media degree at University of Wisconsin-Stout. She teaches journalism and media courses and also mentors students. Edenborg pursues grants that allow her pay students to intern for non-profit community news outlets and collaborates with community members. She also was previously the faculty advisor for the campus news source, the Stoutonia.

Before she came to ��Ͽ�, Edenborg worked as the patient education communication specialist for Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare in St. Paul, Minnesota. She also worked as an editor and reporter for a variety of publications, including the two metropolitan newspapers (Minnestota Tribune and St. Paul Pioneer Press) in the Twin Cities. Edenborg was also the assistant news editor for the Wausau (Wis.) Daily Herald.

Her academic research focuses on journalism history with particular emphasis on how people, ideas, and concepts have been represented by images, text, and other symbols in mass media throughout American history. She is also very interested in health communication.

Edenborg is originally from Menomonie and loves reading non-fiction and going to concerts, especially indie/alt-country/retro-type bands and singers.

Full Name: Kate Edenborg

Job Title: Professor / Program Director

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College: College of Arts & Human Sciences

Department: English, Philosophy & Communication Studies Department

Program

All Degree Programs

B.S. Professional & Technical Communication

Curriculum Vitae: Kate Edenborg CV (241.47 KB)

Education:

Degree: Ph.D. Mass Communication

University: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Degree: M.A. Mass Communication

University: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Degree: B.A. Communications

University: University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

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Made at ��Ͽ� mugs designed to delight visitors