Ryan ChartrandThree graphic communication companies became the first to join a sponsorship program supporting Cal Poly’s University Graphic Systems.
EFI, a leader in digital imaging and print management; Muller Martini, a leading manufacturer of finishing equipment; and Consolidated Graphics, one of the nation’s leading commercial printers, will provide $5,000 annually for the student managers of UGS, according to a recent press release.
“These $25,000 pledges will sponsor several UGS student managers. The managers change every year, so each sponsor supports five students over the five-year period,” said Harvey Levenson, the head of the graphic communication department, in the press release.
UGS is a student-run campus laboratory that produces a wide range of items including magazines, posters, brochures, newspapers and more. They also produce quarterly class schedules, the Mustang Daily, commencement booklets, wide-format posters and Foundation’s Annual Report, as well as many other publications for the campus community.
Student manager Shane Anderson is being sponsored by Muller Martini through the new program. The Switzerland-based company will provide UGS with bindery equipment and periodic service and repairs for those machines.
“This is a good opportunity for students to work with larger outside companies. We’re making contacts in the industry here. I think we’ll have good communication and it’ll help us learn to work well together,” said Anderson, who is a graphic communication senior.
Students involved with the program earn academic credits and some receive competitive wages.
Approximately 70 student employees and nine managers work for UGS as part of the graphic communication department’s curriculum.