National Park College (NPC) received a donation earlier this month from Datamax to support its Art and Design program. The gift—a Canon wide-format printer—will significantly enhance students’ creative projects and learning experiences in the digital print space.
The cutting-edge printer delivers vivid, accurate color, sharp detail and rich depth, making it ideal for both photographic prints and technical illustrations. It will give students access to industry-standard equipment, better preparing them for careers in graphic design, digital media, signage and printing.
Shannon LaDuke, assistant director of the NPC Foundation, reached out to Lee Wheelington, area sales manager at Datamax, to explore the possibility of a donation. Emily Minnick Wyrick, NPC’s local Datamax account manager and a former art major, quickly stepped in to help coordinate the contribution.
“Keeping it local and investing in our youth is a core value we share with National Park College,” said Wheelington. “Datamax values the importance of collaborating with local businesses and maintaining a strong community presence. With offices in Hot Springs, Little Rock, Fort Smith, Texarkana, El Dorado and Jonesboro, Datamax is proud of its Arkansas team and is excited to partner with NPC to contribute to the success of its students.”
“This donation underscores Datamax's commitment to fostering educational growth and supporting the arts within our community,” he added. “We look forward to seeing the innovative projects and creative endeavors that will emerge from the Art Department with the help of this new equipment.”
Jennifer Seward, assistant professor of graphic design in the Arts and Humanities Division, said the gift will have a lasting impact on students' academic and professional development.
“A gift like this is a game-changer for our department,” Seward said. “Students will be able to create and display artwork that truly matches their vision. Learning to work with and print on an industry-standard piece of equipment will set our students apart from other graduates.”
Seward also praised the Datamax team for their hands-on support.
“We are so grateful for this gift. The two gentlemen who came out to set up the printer were absolutely wonderful. They helped train us to use the equipment and understand the maintenance as well. Thank you, Datamax, for supporting not only the visual arts but also helping to prepare our students for their futures,” she said.
LaDuke extended that appreciation and emphasized the broader impact on the college.
“We are incredibly grateful for the support of community-minded partners like Datamax,” LaDuke said. “Recognizing a need in our Digital Media Arts program, Datamax generously stepped in to help. Their contribution of a wide-format printer will have a lasting impact on NPC students, empowering them to bring their creative visions to life. We’re excited to see the innovative work our students will produce thanks to this generous gift.”
NPC’s Art and Design program equips students with a solid foundation in both traditional and digital media through its two-year Associate of Arts degree in Digital and Media Arts. With a focus on hands-on experience, the program prepares graduates for careers in graphic design, digital media, advertising, fine arts and related fields—or for seamless transfer to four-year institutions.
Pictured left to right are Robert Moore, Emily Wyrick, Jennifer Seward, and Tyler Stracener.