By Rebecca Gaspord
Students showcase work in multiple categories while connecting with industry leaders and peers in graphic communications.
Students from the University of Wisconsin-Stout recently participated in the 2026 Technical Association of the Graphic Arts (TAGA) Student Chapter Competition & Awards, where they earned the Student’s Choice Award for their work. The event brought together students, educators, and industry professionals from across the graphic communications field to celebrate innovation, research, and collaboration.
UW–Stout students (left to right) Sam Mireles-Melgarejo, Theodore Cerny, Becky Gaspord, Red Moser, Mallory Jakubiak, advisor Bethany Wheeler and Ariel Kissel, pose in front of the Konica Minolta building with the Student’s Choice Award at the 2026 TAGA Student Chapter Competition & Awards.
Student TAGA Chapters
A central component of the TAGA experience is the student chapter competition, where universities develop and submit work across a variety of categories reflecting the diverse skills required in the graphic communications industry. In 2026, the competition structure allowed greater flexibility, enabling chapters to participate in individual categories rather than producing a single comprehensive journal.
UW-Stout students contributed to multiple categories, including Package Production, Publication Production, Journal Design, and Website Design. Each submission required not only a final deliverable but also detailed production notes outlining the process behind the work, reinforcing skills in design, technical execution, project management, and collaboration.
Throughout the event, student chapters presented their work and interacted with peers and professionals. The competition highlighted the level of dedication and creativity students bring to their projects, as well as the value of hands-on, experiential learning in preparing for industry careers. Their efforts were recognized by peers across participating institutions, with UW-Stout earning the Student’s Choice Award, an honor voted on by fellow student competitors.
Industry Connections and Atmosphere
Beyond the competition, the TAGA event created a space for connection between students, researchers, and industry professionals. The atmosphere of the 2026 competition reflected both excitement and collaboration.
TAGA President Birgit Plautz described the environment as “a really great mix of curiosity and excitement. Students are pushing new ideas, and industry folks are genuinely interested. It feels collaborative, not just competitive.” This dynamic encourages students to think critically and creatively while feeling supported by the broader professional community.
The event also reinforced the connection between academic research and real-world industry practices, giving students insight into how their work fits within the larger field.
Student Experience and Community
A key highlight of the TAGA experience is the sense of community among participating schools. Students connected with peers from other universities, exchanged ideas, and gained new perspectives on design, research, and production.
TAGA’s Vice President of Education, Celeste Calkins, emphasized the importance of these interactions, noting that the event was designed to “provide an opportunity for students from different schools to meet and engage in dialogue.” She also highlighted the continued enthusiasm of participants, sharing, “I was not sure how the virtual environment would work to announce the awards, but we wanted to make it as natural and engaging as possible. Based on what I saw, the students were just as energetic and enthusiastic about the process as in the live events; that was encouraging to see!”
For UW-Stout students, these connections added significant value to the experience, supporting both personal and professional growth.
Impact on the Industry
TAGA plays an important role in shaping how students understand the graphic communications industry and their place within it. Participation in the competition exposes students to current trends, emerging technologies, and evolving industry needs.
Plautz emphasized this impact, explaining that TAGA helps “connect new ideas with what’s actually happening in the industry,” creating opportunities for student work to influence real-world practices.
The experience also underscores the role of research in driving innovation, encouraging students to think beyond individual projects and consider broader industry applications.
Forward
The 2026 TAGA Student Chapter Competition & Awards provided UW-Stout students with a meaningful way to engage with the graphic communications industry. Through competition, collaboration, and professional interaction, students gained a deeper understanding of both the technical and professional aspects of the field.
As Calkins noted, “these students are the future of this industry,” highlighting the importance of providing opportunities for them to grow, connect, and contribute. Plautz echoed this sentiment, expressing hope that students leave TAGA realizing “their ideas matter” and that they have the ability to shape the future of the industry.
UW-Stout students look forward to continuing their involvement with TAGA and building on the connections and experiences gained through this event.
Rebecca (Becky) Gaspord is a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Stout, studying Professional Communication and Emerging Media with a concentration in Applied Journalism, along with minors in Communication Studies and Graphic Media & Print Management.
