The Graphic Communications Scholarship Foundation (GCSF) is pleased to announce that the recipient of its 2024 Champion of Education Award is Francis McMahon, Executive Vice President, Canon Solutions America.

The GCSF Champion of Education Award honors exceptional individuals in the graphic communications and media field who have contributed their time, resources, and talents to advance the industry’s understanding and to prepare the next generation of its workforce. As one of the industry’s most influential advocates on behalf of digital printing and publishing, Francis is a Champion of print and graphic media in every sense of the word.

Over the course of his career, Francis has enthusiastically championed for print and helped build some of the strongest communities of printers in the United States. He has overseen organizations that helped educate print service providers and future printing professionals, most notably through thINK, the University Inkjet Program and Print[ED], all sponsored by Canon Solutions America. He has also donated some of his own personal time to mentor young professionals within the printing industry.

“Developing the industry’s next generation of leaders is important for ensuring a promising future,” said McMahon. “I am proud to accept this award and hope that it can serve as a call to action for us all to ensure that we are thinking of young professionals coming up in our industry and helping to equip them with the tools they will need to thrive and advance our industry.”

He will accept the Champion of Education Award during GCSF’s 2024 Scholarship Award Ceremony at the Renaissance New York Midtown Hotel on June 24. The event also will feature the presentations of scholarships and grants to students of graphic communications and institutions that promote career development within the discipline.

This is the primary mission of GCSF, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation that has grown from a back-of-the-envelope project into one of the industry’s most noteworthy sources of funding for professional education. GCSF has contributed more than $1.4 million to the cause of print industry education since awarding its first scholarships in 2002.

GCSF’s donors include printing companies, technology suppliers, publishers, trade associations, and individuals who share its dedication to nurturing the industry’s next generation of talent. GCSF remains an all-volunteer initiative that has no paid staff, no overhead expenses, nor any purpose other than channeling 100% of the money it raises to deserving students, schools, and organizations.

GCSF serves high school, college, and graduate students throughout the New York City metropolitan area who are preparing for or are enrolled in some of the country’s most prestigious graphic studies programs. GCSF scholarship recipients – many of whom have earned more than one yearly grant – have attended The School of Visual Arts, Rochester Institute of Technology, Pratt Institute, Parsons the New School for Design, and Rhode Island School of Design, among others.

Contributing to group activities as well as to individuals expands the ways in which GCSF can help students and supporters of graphic communications. Recipients of institutional grants from GCSF include New York City College of Technology and Women’s Press Collective.

GCSF also operates a mentoring program that provides career-focused learning experiences for students pursuing careers in graphic communications. The plan includes one-on-one coaching, workplace assignments, plant tours, participation at trade shows and events, and other activities designed to streamline their entry into the industry.

GCSF has branched into training by developing introductory courses in Adobe Creative Suite, the most widely used software for graphic production. Presented virtually by experts in the applications, the courses help students as well as working professionals to sharpen their Creative Suite skills.

In all of these ways, GCSF is helping the graphic communications industry overcome obstacles to recruiting and professional development, one scholarship award at a time. Those wishing to support the good work it does can find further information at gcsfny.org/donate.