FOSTER CITY, Calif. – Aug. 22, 2006 – EFI, the world leader in digital controllers, superwide format printers and inks, and print management solutions, today reinforced the company's commitment to the next-generation of printers and graphic arts professionals. As the 2006 school year begins, EFI renews its support, in terms of time, product and monetary donation, of industry and university programs fostering the future's innovative and productive print and graphic arts workforce. “Our customers and partners are concerned about developing the industry's future workforce, and so are we – as the new school year begins, we evaluate scholarship and other education programs and support the most compelling,” said Joseph Cutts, chief operating officer, EFI. “EFI's objective on this is to encourage students to choose the printing industry; to help ensure that the educational resources are available to help them prepare for an exciting and fulfilling career in print. We strive to do everything we can to help the industry thrive.” EFI supports a variety and combination of industry organizations, and scholarship and university programs. Following are several examples. EFI sponsors The Electronic Document Systems Foundation (EDSF), and EFI CEO Guy Gecht is a member-at-large of the EDSF board of directors. EDSF is dedicated to enhancing the value and relevance of document communications worldwide, and the organization promotes the value and achievements of students and educators through high caliber awards programs. EDSF Scholarship Awards assist students interested in document communication careers, and the EDSF Excellence in Education Awards recognizes outstanding educators and groundbreaking educational and training. EFI is a sponsor of TAGA, the Technical Association of the Graphic Arts, and Chuck Gehman, EFI director of product marketing, is a member of the TAGA board. TAGA is the only global professional association for the graphic arts industries. The association provides guidance and support to its 15 student chapters around the world, and sponsors annual competitions that financially reward the best graphic arts students. EFI contributes financially and by donating its industry-leading products to several colleges and universities around the world. University Graphic Systems (UGS), a full-service, student-run printing enterprise located on the California Polytechnic University's (Cal Poly) San Luis Obispo campus, deploys EFI-donated solutions, from Fiery print servers to EFI Print MIS, and EFI annually sponsors a UGS student manager. John Grubb, EFI senior trainer, is on the Cal Poly Graphic Communication Department's Advisory Board. EFI also supplies the latest color laser digital printing and related color management technologies to the London College of Communication (in conjunction with Xerox) and Melbourne-based RMIT University's International Center of Graphic Technology, within the School of Design, the pre-eminent provider of printing education and training in Australia, enabling the institutions to offer a curriculum devoted to digital printing, document management, variable data and color management. EFI makes a similar donation to the Rochester Institute of Technology's College of Imaging Arts and Sciences, located in New York. EFI financially supports the Society of Women Engineers Scholarship Program, which provides financial assistance to women admitted to accredited baccalaureate or graduate programs, in preparation for careers in engineering, engineering technology and computer science.