College expenses can be a nightmare, as most college students would agree. The average cost of tuition and fees in the United States for 2015 exceeded $32,000 according to CollegeData.com. And the cost can reach as high as $120,000 for graduate school, according to FinAid.org. So it makes sense the first thing a student would (and absolutely should) do after being accepted to college is start looking for any means possible to cut the cost of higher education. For individuals interested in graphic communications, the Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation (PGSF) offers the tuition and fellowship assistance young students need to help them attend school comfortably. PGSF dedicates itself not only to the financial assistance of students, but also functions to strengthen the graphic communications industry and reassure students that the multi-faceted industry is indeed growing. When former PGSF recipient Matthew Busch decided to return to school to become a graphic arts teacher, PGSF’s assistance helped him achieve his dream of sharing his enthusiasm for graphic communications with younger generations. Matthew’s interest in the world of graphic communications was kick-started by a “kooky” high school graphics teacher whose classroom inspired him to pursue graphic communications professionally. After learning all he could about printing and graphics and experiencing processes firsthand, his interest became a passion. Not long after, Matthew’s attendance at graphics summer camps and trade shows transformed that passion into a hobby. As a result, he later earned his bachelor’s degree in graphic design. However, as fate would have it, Matthew never fit in with the various industry jobs he tried. Finding himself constantly drawn back to education, he went into teaching. Still suffering from the debt accumulated from his undergraduate years, he discovered PGSF while searching for financial assistance for his master’s degree. After applying, he received several PGSF scholarship awards that made his journey possible. “I still have graduate loans I’m paying off … but it’s nowhere near as much had PGSF not been there for me,” he said. Now working at Enloe High School in North Carolina, Matthew’s dream of teaching graphics is now a reality thanks, in part, to PGSF. Channeling his admiration and respect for his high school graphics instructor, Matthew encourages students to get into graphic communications by creating a “project-based” classroom that puts most aspects of a project in the hands of the student, giving them a lot of creative freedom. The success of his program—dubbed “Enloe Graphics”—is partly due to Enloe High School’s administration. The school has a “go for it” attitude and sees a graphics department as an important program worth supporting. Matthew emulated that mentality by building a strong printing and graphics program furnished with all the resources it...

College expenses can be a nightmare, as most college students would agree. The average cost of tuition and fees in the United States for 2015 exceeded $32,000 according to CollegeData.com. And the cost can reach as high as $120,000 for graduate school, according to FinAid.org. So it makes sense the first thing a student would (and absolutely should) do after being accepted to college is start looking for any means possible to cut the cost of higher education. For individuals interested in graphic communications, the Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation (PGSF) offers the tuition and fellowship assistance young students need to help them attend school comfortably. PGSF dedicates itself not only to the financial assistance of students, but also functions to strengthen the graphic communications industry and reassure students that the multi-faceted industry is indeed growing. When former PGSF recipient Matthew Busch decided to return to school to become a graphic arts teacher, PGSF’s assistance helped him achieve his dream of sharing his enthusiasm for graphic communications with younger generations. Matthew’s interest in the world of graphic communications was kick-started by a “kooky” high school graphics teacher whose classroom inspired him to pursue graphic communications professionally. After learning all he could about printing and graphics and experiencing processes firsthand, his interest became a passion. Not long after, Matthew’s attendance at graphics summer camps and trade shows transformed that passion into a hobby. As a result, he later earned his bachelor’s degree in graphic design. However, as fate would have it, Matthew never fit in with the various industry jobs he tried. Finding himself constantly drawn back to education, he went into teaching. Still suffering from the debt accumulated from his undergraduate years, he discovered PGSF while searching for financial assistance for his master’s degree. After applying, he received several PGSF scholarship awards that made his journey possible. “I still have graduate loans I’m paying off … but it’s nowhere near as much had PGSF not been there for me,” he said. Now working at Enloe High School in North Carolina, Matthew’s dream of teaching graphics is now a reality thanks, in part, to PGSF. Channeling his admiration and respect for his high school graphics instructor, Matthew encourages students to get into graphic communications by creating a “project-based” classroom that puts most aspects of a project in the hands of the student, giving them a lot of creative freedom. The success of his program—dubbed “Enloe Graphics”—is partly due to Enloe High School’s administration. The school has a “go for it” attitude and sees a graphics department as an important program worth supporting. Matthew emulated that mentality by building a strong printing and graphics program furnished with all the resources it...

In April, Printing Industries of America alerted you to a major scam involving a fraudulent direct marketing agency operating out of Montreal and Toronto. Federal authorities believe the targets in this case have been operating under the following names: Direct Market, DMW Direct, API Global Fulfillment, DMG Group Corporation, Global Media, Slim-Tab, and LipoCitrex. The scam artist purports to represent clients marketing weight loss products such as Axera International, BeSlim, and Nutrim. The scam is simple but effective and has claimed a number of victims. The marketing agency contacts printers via their website with a potential windfall job to produce millions of marketing pieces. The marketing agency literally banks on printers offering a line of credit based on initial feedback from credit references, which are similarly fraudulent. When printers ask for a check to cover postage, it is promptly sent via UPS. The check looks completely official, including a hologram, and printers deposit it thinking all is well, not realizing that any check drawn on a foreign bank account will take 2–3 weeks to validate and collect funds. This is the scam—some companies will drop the printed pieces and mail them before the check clears leaving the printer to cover the postage and printing costs. Sadly, a significant number of PIA members are now out tens of thousands of dollars because of this scam. The United States Postal Service (USPS) and law enforcement officials on both sides of the border are investigating the matter, and in fact progress has been made. USPS officials now want to hear specifics from those who have been injured by this scam. If your company has fallen victim or you were approached by any of the aforementioned entities, PLEASE CONTACT POSTAL INSPECTOR MATT SCHMITZ at 920-869-3719 or via email at...

In April, Printing Industries of America alerted you to a major scam involving a fraudulent direct marketing agency operating out of Montreal and Toronto. Federal authorities believe the targets in this case have been operating under the following names: Direct Market, DMW Direct, API Global Fulfillment, DMG Group Corporation, Global Media, Slim-Tab, and LipoCitrex. The scam artist purports to represent clients marketing weight loss products such as Axera International, BeSlim, and Nutrim. The scam is simple but effective and has claimed a number of victims. The marketing agency contacts printers via their website with a potential windfall job to produce millions of marketing pieces. The marketing agency literally banks on printers offering a line of credit based on initial feedback from credit references, which are similarly fraudulent. When printers ask for a check to cover postage, it is promptly sent via UPS. The check looks completely official, including a hologram, and printers deposit it thinking all is well, not realizing that any check drawn on a foreign bank account will take 2–3 weeks to validate and collect funds. This is the scam—some companies will drop the printed pieces and mail them before the check clears leaving the printer to cover the postage and printing costs. Sadly, a significant number of PIA members are now out tens of thousands of dollars because of this scam. The United States Postal Service (USPS) and law enforcement officials on both sides of the border are investigating the matter, and in fact progress has been made. USPS officials now want to hear specifics from those who have been injured by this scam. If your company has fallen victim or you were approached by any of the aforementioned entities, PLEASE CONTACT POSTAL INSPECTOR MATT SCHMITZ at 920-869-3719 or via email at...

The 2016 Premier Print Awards deadline is coming up fast! This June, expert judges from all segments of the print industry will come together to meticulously examine entries from across the globe. You’re not going to want to miss the opportunity to have your best pieces judged—all for a chance at receiving the coveted Benny statue. If you’re still on the fence about submitting your pieces to the “Oscars of the Industry,” we’re here to help make your decision easier. Michael Klyn, the 2016 Premier Print Awards chairman and decades-long veteran of the graphic communication industry, knows a thing or two about what goes on during this intense competition. Check out our video series where we got his two cents on some of the biggest trends seen throughout the Premier Print Awards.  The 2016 Premier Print Awards Using a PPA Win for Synergy with Your Clients Digital Printing in the Premier Print Awards Synergy Between Designers and Printers in PPA Pieces Adding Extra Information with your PPA Pieces The deadline for this year’s round of entries is on May 25. Enter your pieces today at awards.printing.org. For questions regarding this year’s entry process, contact Mike Packard at...

The 2016 Premier Print Awards deadline is coming up fast! This June, expert judges from all segments of the print industry will come together to meticulously examine entries from across the globe. You’re not going to want to miss the opportunity to have your best pieces judged—all for a chance at receiving the coveted Benny statue. If you’re still on the fence about submitting your pieces to the “Oscars of the Industry,” we’re here to help make your decision easier. Michael Klyn, the 2016 Premier Print Awards chairman and decades-long veteran of the graphic communication industry, knows a thing or two about what goes on during this intense competition. Check out our video series where we got his two cents on some of the biggest trends seen throughout the Premier Print Awards.  The 2016 Premier Print Awards Using a PPA Win for Synergy with Your Clients Digital Printing in the Premier Print Awards Synergy Between Designers and Printers in PPA Pieces Adding Extra Information with your PPA Pieces The deadline for this year’s round of entries is on May 25. Enter your pieces today at awards.printing.org. For questions regarding this year’s entry process, contact Mike Packard at...