Emeritus professor stays focused to university student success by way of scholarship
Considering the fact that arriving at Arizona Point out University in 1981, Emeritus Professor Thomas Schildgen prioritized student accomplishment in a variety of means. Possibly the most important was soliciting, coordinating and establishing graphic information and facts technological innovation scholarships. He carries on to extend his assistance now by means of his individual scholarship, the Dr. Thomas Schildgen Scholarship.
Schildgen retired from ASU in 2018 right after practically four impactful a long time of support in the graphic information and facts know-how method and other spots. 

Emeritus Professor Thomas Schildgen, demonstrated at still left in a processional at a Fulton Universities convocation ceremony, has released a scholarship to assist incoming transfer learners and continuing students in the graphic facts technology software at the Ira A. Fulton Educational institutions of Engineering. Photo by Hayden Taylor/ASU
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“For 15 years as the plan chair, I hosted donors and worked to solicit endowed scholarships such as the Renee and Arthur Horowitz Scholarship or the Sue Folger Scholarship,” he claimed.
Contributions to graphic data engineering education
Schildgen’s dedication to his field grew through extensive expertise in graphic communications above many a long time of function at two institutions of increased education. Immediately after doing the job at Illinois Condition University, Schildgen came to ASU in 1981. He mentioned it was the encouragement from his friends at Illinois Condition that gave him the courage to him depart his position there and go to Arizona, knowing he would develop the most being out his comfort and ease zone.
“Thanks to the early efforts of Dr. Zeke Prust, who was a professor, section chair and director for the (then) University of Engineering at ASU, the graphic communications system at ASU experienced a potent nationwide popularity,” Schildgen stated. “I experienced the privilege of rising the enrollment and securing countrywide and intercontinental accreditation of the undergraduate and graduate applications.”
When the world wide web revolutionized the graphic info business, the school began discovering how engineering could be incorporated into the curriculum, as well as how it could give the plan a broader arrive at. Inevitably, graphic communications became a single of the 1st on-line diploma packages at ASU.
“That’s when we adjusted the identify of the degree plans to graphic details technological know-how and commenced choosing college who taught the spectrum of communications technologies from digital printing to online and web purposes,” Schildgen stated. “Today, ASU has a single of the largest, if not the greatest, graphic communications system in the entire world with in excess of 1,200 learners enrolled on line or on campus.”
Thomas Schildgen
Starting a cycle of giving
Developing his individual scholarship was a “no brainer,” reported Schildgen, whose scholarship will financially guidance at least two college students for every calendar year.
“It is my would like that scholarship recipients entire their diploma program and safe employment so they can take into consideration producing a donation to guide the college students who ended up when in their sneakers,” Schildgen mentioned.
Katrina Hammon, a fourth-yr graphic data technologies scholar and a receiver of Schildgen’s scholarship, says she would like to donate to the scholarship fund as soon as she’s financially equipped to do so.
“As a entire-time scholar and guardian, finances can be mind-boggling. This scholarship has authorized me to concentrate much more on my scientific studies and consider benefit of taking part in faculty clubs,” Hammon said.
“As a university student worker for the ASU Print and Imaging Lab and as a university student graphic designer for the Fulton Educational facilities, I have been ready to obtain palms-on encounter in the design and style area. Though this working experience has been effective, it is only component time, which boundaries the quantity of earnings I deliver in each thirty day period. I am grateful for the financial guidance this scholarship has extra.”
Any incoming transfer pupil or continuing student in the graphic information know-how program can apply for the scholarship.
“With so several of our pupils operating whole time while receiving their degree, I deliberately held the expected bare minimum GPA at 3. so learners are in a position to harmony all of their tasks,” Schildgen reported.
In addition to monetary assistance, Schildgen is often accessible to his learners for educational tips, “as are all of the graphic details technological innovation faculty,” he mentioned. He retired 3 several years back but nonetheless writes letters of suggestion for both undergraduate and graduate pupils who require them.
“Dr. Schildgen held his college students to the highest standards, coaching them to be ever superior in his relaxed and calculated way,” explained Erica Miles, graphic information and facts technological know-how alumna and college associate. “He had an impression on my future in a large amount of means, and he is 100% liable for my continued involvement with ASU as a faculty affiliate teaching the introduction to professional print class. I am thrilled that he continues to effect the lives of pupils by means of his scholarship fund.”
Schildgen was Miles’ mentor as she completed her senior project, as properly as the chair of her graduate supervisory committee when she was a master’s program scholar.
“In addition to playing a important position for the two of my capstone tasks, Dr. Schildgen sales opportunities by example as a lifelong learner in the print marketplace,” Miles mentioned. “He was continuously researching and training the latest print systems. The initial time I listened to the term ‘bleeding edge,’ no pun meant, might have been from him.”
Inspiring long term designers
In the vicinity of the conclude of his vocation, Schildgen was elected president of the ASU College Senate and chair of the University Tutorial Council, enabling him to do the job with ASU President Michael Crow to progress the institution’s mission across all campuses.
“The graphics area was my enthusiasm in the course of my occupation, and I hope to encourage younger designers and communicators to pursue management careers in this satisfying market,” Schilden explained. “If this scholarship can assistance and encourage the job of a future Sun Devil, my goal will be attained.”
Any individual interested in offering to the Dr. Thomas Schildgen Scholarship fund can go to the ASU Foundation internet site. Learners may possibly apply by way of the standard scholarship at fultonapps.asu.edu/scholarship (ASURITE login needed).
For far more information and facts on giving to ASU, contact Assistant Director of Growth Jennifer Williams.