EDSF Educator of the Year for Higher Education
Sponsored by: Cannon USA

Ms. Lorraine Donegan Assistant Professor Cal Poly State University Graphic Communication Department San Luis Obispo, CA , USA

The 2006 recipient for Educator of the Year in Higher Education, Lorraine Donegan is an Assistant Professor in the Graphic Communication Department at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) in San Luis Obispo, California.

Lorraine is coordinator for the Design Reproduction Technology concentration within the Graphic Communication department. Lorraine's program educates students to understand the relationship between art and production, particularly from a digital perspective. One specific goal of Ms. Donegan's teaching is to link design with technology, providing her students with the technical knowledge of graphic communication, computer software and digital workflows that are critical to the industry.

Her teaching and research specialties include design technology of books, magazines, newspapers and multimedia. She is the co-chair of the Graphic Communication Department's Electronic Publishing Laboratory and Design Reproduction Technology Laboratory, both of which are state-of-the-art teaching facilities, in which students create media from start to finish.

Professor Donegan's teaching techniques have enabled her students to win awards at national competitions, including the annual Bookbuilder's West competition. In 2005, Professor Donegan won the prestigious Xerox PIXI "silver" Award for a magazine her class designed and produced.

Donegan is recognized as one of the most involved and effective student advisors and this is among over one thousand faculty members at Cal Poly. She was recently awarded the Cal Poly's Outstanding Advisor of the Year Award. Candidates for this annual award are nominated by the students and presented to only one faculty member. Donegan is also active in many aspects of curriculum development.

"The graphic communication industry is ever-changing which makes my job very exciting and rewarding. I am honored to receive this prestigious award and to be recognized for my passion for teaching and learning."

- Lorraine Donegan

EDSF Educator of the Year for Secondary/Post-Secondary Education
Sponsored by: RICOH

John P. Santos Instructor, Manual Arts High School Graphic Arts/Imaging Sciences and Technology Academy Los Angeles, CA, USA

John Santos has worked in South Central Los Angeles, CA for 13 years, as the Lead Teacher of Graphic Communications and of the Imaging Sciences & Technology Academy (ISTA) at Manual Arts High School.

Under John's leadership, the program has become a model of what can happen when a community works together to help its young people realize their potential. Of his 42 graduates last year, all went on to college. 18 of John's graduates are continuing in engineering and technology, including one ISTA young lady who was awarded a full scholarship to Yale University's Engineering Department.

John's students have won numerous competitions including most recently the Southern California Regionals of the National Engineering Design Competition and top prize at the PIASC (Printing Industries Association of Southern California) Academic and Technical Decathlon. His students are often the first from this geographic area to participate in competitions and to come out as winners.

At Cal State University Los Angeles, John spearheaded "2+4+C", a college early entry program, enabling inner city high school students to fully participate in and receive credit for college graphic design courses. John also lectures at Cal State University Los Angeles and volunteers as a facilitator to graduate technology students.

"Viva Technology," is another of John's projects, and is nationally renowned for educating and motivating young students, k-12, to consider careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The PIASC, the California State Senate, the Los Angeles City Council, the National Aeronautic and Space Administration/JPL, and the University of California, have also recognized Mr. Santos' passion and excellence in teaching and inspiring his students.

"Thank you EDSF selection committee, partners and benefactors for this most humbling recognition. This award recognizes the hard work and sacrifice that teachers, mentor and partners have given to prove that all we need to do is imagine the possible, and then make it possible. It is through our service to others that we can make this world a better place."

- John P. Santos