By Juliana Pivoto, Dscoop Community Success Manager, Americas
The Dscoop Academia Program didn’t start yesterday. For years, thanks to educator and committed volunteer Mike Ferrari's work and dedication, students have been part of the Edge experience for years. Mike laid the foundation, established connections with schools, and ensured this program had a place in our community.
When he stepped away from the role in 2026, the program's continued momentum served as a testament to his longtime dedication. With the support of Dscoop leadership, the loyalty of the schools that keep showing up, and a shared belief that this matters, the program has evolved.
This year in Denver, it showed. We had 40+ students at Edge Rockies, and more than 20 of them were there thanks to the very first Dscoop Grant — a $25,000 initiative, matched by HP and brought to life through the efforts of PGSF. (You can donate to the grant program here.) Rosemarie Breske Garvey, President of Blooming Color, planted the seed for the grant. She believed in it early on and encouraged us to move forward and make it real. This interview between Rosemarie and hosts Tara Seth and Mackenzie Griffin includes more about the grant's backstory. Tara and Mackenzie are former Ferris State students who have been on stage at Dscoop Edge and now publish a podcast called "Talk More Print." Seeing Print Through New Eyes
When we were planning the student experience at Edge Rockies, these questions kept coming back to me:
- What if I were in the students' shoes?
- What would I want to see?
- Who would I want to meet?
- How would I want to feel walking into a room full of professionals?
That mindset helped, and seeing them all together in Denver was inspiring. The energy, the curiosity, the way they leaned into every conversation — it reminded me how much this industry has to offer when you actually get to experience it.
Honestly, I wish I had something like this when I was in college.
For the welcome session, workplace advisor and speaker Claudia St. John helped set the tone, giving students a way to make the most out of the conference. She helped organize an "Ask Me Anything" session that didn’t really end when time was up. Conversations kept going, which says a lot about how engaged everyone was.
Also, during site visits scheduled around the Edge Rockies event, Cottrell Printing and 1Vision opened their doors, giving students a real look into operations, people, and day-to-day life in print. That kind of exposure stays with them. (A big thank-you to our members who made that possible!)
Here’s what became clear to me after being so close to this program:
There’s a real “before” and “after” for these students.
They walk in with one idea of what the printing industry is.
They walk out seeing something completely different — more dynamic, more creative, full of opportunities they didn’t even know existed.
We’ve already seen what can come out of it. One of the students who joined us at Edge St. Louis later traveled to Japan after meeting Yukinoro Okamoto from Goof Inc. — something that probably wouldn’t have happened otherwise. You can read the full story here. The grant experience stays with students and often shapes what they want next. This post from Thao Linh Nguyen, a student and grant recipient from Vietnam, says it better than we ever could. Why Your Support Matters
Supporting the Academia and the Grant programs is about:
- Helping schools keep print programs alive
- Helping students find internships and first jobs
- Helping companies connect with new talent
- Helping our industry stay relevant and show that it’s far from boring
It’s also worth clarifying that the grant is not limited to attending Dscoop events. It can also support students as they step into real-world experiences. Many programs require internships, and when opportunities arise in different cities or even countries, the grant can help make them possible.
We need more stories like the ones coming from students in Japan and Vietnam. That only happens if we keep this effort moving forward. We’re a community of 20,000+ members. When more people get involved, the impact grows.
A small note for our partners: These students are not just attending. They're paying attention to your technology, your solutions, your team. The young talent you’re speaking with today could be an influencer or decision-maker tomorrow.
Thankfully, the grant is not going anywhere. Dscoop and HP are committed to making it happen again in 2027.
And for 2027, my partner in crime will be Bettylyn Krafft — this year’s Jack Glacken Award winner — bringing her experience with the Phoenix Challenge into the Academia Program. That’s going to be fun! This program has become more than just inviting students to a conference. It’s turning into something bigger. Something the community can shape.
If you believe in what this industry can be, there are a few ways to be part of it:
- Share internship, first-job, or entry-level opportunities on the platform (or reach out to me at [email protected], and I'll connect you with the schools).
Every action keeps the door open for the next group of students, and consequently, keeps fresh talent flowing into the industry. It's a win-win!
Don’t just support a cause, support an opportunity!
