Lasting People. Lasting Impact.
Endowments and scholarships honor the people and experiences that have shaped Graphic Communication while creating lasting support for generations of GrC students.
Featured Endowment
Endowments in Cal Poly’s Graphic Communication Department support students today and for generations to come. Your gift creates hands-on opportunities, provides real-world experience, and prepares future industry leaders.
The Steve Standifer Memorial Scholarship Endowment
This scholarship supports the student manager of University Graphic Systems — a role Steve invested in deeply and personally. It ensures that every student who steps into that role carries a little of Steve's encouragement with them, just as so many students did when he was here.
Support Here
About Steve
Steve Standifer lived by a simple conviction: the best lessons come not from instruction, but from doing. Raised in New Mexico, he spent countless hours on his grandparents’ ranch, where “Learn by Doing” was a necessity. When something broke, you fixed it—an early lesson in practical, self-reliant thinking that shaped everything that followed.
Steve’s career began in mechanical engineering and expanded into information technology, multimedia production, and business ownership. He found the perfect final chapter in Cal Poly’s Graphic Communication Department, joining in 2020 during the COVID pandemic. As an essential employee on a quiet campus, he developed hands-on mastery of the department’s computer systems and complex machinery.
Steve paired technical expertise with a deep commitment to students, faculty, and staff. Through University Graphic Systems, he mentored student managers, solved problems, built confidence, and strengthened instruction and innovation throughout the department.
Other Endowment Opportunities
Many paths. One shared purpose — supporting GrC students, the future leaders of industry
GrC endowments create lasting support for students and help sustain the experiences that make a Graphic Communication education distinctive. Each endowment reflects a different story and purpose, from scholarships and student leadership to hands-on learning and professional growth.
Explore the opportunities below and consider supporting the one that is most meaningful to you.
Terry Bell Faculty Development
To be used for Faculty and Staff development including training at vendor sites, attending seminars, workshops and conferences, and for related development.
Terry Bell/Color Graphics Endowment
To support and enhance laboratories for the Printing and Imaging Management concentration.
To fund an annual lecture conducted by prominent individual in the Graphic Communication profession.
To support curriculum development and related activities for the Printing and Imaging Management Concentration.
Brian Lawler Scholarship
To support students engaged in student activities within the Graphic Communication Department including, but not limited to, UGS, TAGA, Shakepeare Press Museum, Command, Mat Pica Pi.
Harvey Levenson Excellence in Graphic Communication Scholarship
To support an undergraduate and/or graduate student or students studying Graphic Communication.
Gary Field Scholarship
To support Graphic Communication students, with preference for student(s) with a passion for ink-on-paper aspects of Graphic Communication. Require recipients to have experience working part-time for UGS, similar outside organization, or in a similar occupation.
Catalyst Paper Doc Stapleton Internship
For students interested in completing an internship in paper-intensive internship with one of several companies involved in the Catalyst Paper fundraisers for scholarships. Funds are specifically to pay for internship cost and living expenses while completing internship. Summer award only.
Raymond J. Prince Graphic Communication Future Leader
For students who demonstrate academic excellence and a likelihood to excel in the field
Guy Thomas Memorial Scholarship
For students who demonstrate leadership and organizational abilities as well as a desire to seek a career in the newspaper publishing business.
Buck-Page Scholarship
For students who majored in
Graphic Communication or Journalism.
GRC Student Learning Enhancement Support
To enhance and improve the "hands-on" learning experience received by students participating in University Graphic Systems, the Graphic Communication Institute, or any similar student enterprise activity supportive of the Graphic Communication Department.
Paul Kissell Philosopher of Printing
For students who are committed to furthering the graphic arts profession through effective management, technology, leadership, and communication.
Scitex/Adobe Student Scholarship
For students who majored in Graphic Communication.
Hans Veeder Scholarship
For students who are well-rounded, love people, and are active, with an emphasis on extracurricular leadership activities.
Christopher Frair Memorial Scholarship
For students who demonstrate an effort to perform extracurricular design projects, such as freelance work acknowledged by non-profit agencies, employers, contests, etc., or viable projects associated with
their particular curriculum.
W.E.Deming-Total Quality Management
Education and training in the philosophy and techniques of W. Edwards Deming and Total Quality Management.
Professors From Industry
To support the "Professors From Industry" program in the
Graphic Communication Department.
Hank Apfelberg Memorial Endowment
This account has been established as a memorial endowment in honor of Graphic Communication Professor Hank Apfelberg who taught at Cal Poly for
more than 30 years.
George Prue/Craftman Press West Graphic Communication Scholarship
For students based on motivation, success and the prospect of achieving a successful graphic communication career with leadership in areas of management and/or technology.
Doc Stapleton Memorial Scholarship
For students who majored in Graphic Communication and demonstrated high financial need.
Bert and Wanda Weeden Graphic Communication Scholarship
For students who majored in Graphic Communication.
Quad/Graphics Eric Steinbach Memorial Graphic Communication Scholarship
The Quad/Graphics Eric Steinbach Memorial Graphic Communication Scholarship supports eligible Graphic Communication students at any class level, selected according to University policy. Endowment earnings may also support curriculum development, laboratory improvements, and professional development.