Canon Employees Win Girls Who Print Awards

Girls Who Print, an online network of women in the print industry, names Valentina Echavarria and Melody Ownby as winners of the Girls Who Print Rising Star Award for their efforts in the creation and execution of the University Inkjet Program with Clemson University and Rochester Institute of Technology.

Both women are Canon Solutions America employees: Echavarria is a product manager and Ownby is a product planning specialist.

According to Deborah Corn, Print Media Centr, the award was created specifically with Valentina and Ownby in mind, as a way of recognizing the hard work and passion the two women brought to hundreds of students through the University Inkjet Program.

Launched in 2017 with Clemson University, both Echavarria and Ownby’s alma mater, the program was established to educate students on print industry trends and Canon’s inkjet technology. According to the company, it also exposes the students to career opportunities in print production and sets a precedent for future programs with universities nationwide.

“Valentina and Melody took it upon themselves to create a program that introduces university students to inkjet printing. Their success at Clemson opened more doors to more schools. That level of drive and determination deserved recognition, so I created the Girls Who Print Rising Star Award and gave it to them during our 2021 conference. It’s incredible what they have accomplished, and a testament to the management team at Canon Solutions America for supporting Valentina and Melody and giving them the space to create something and shine,” remarks Corn.

Francis A. McMahon, executive vice president, Production Print Solutions, Canon Solutions America, Inc., adds, “This is truly just the beginning for these two talented women. It is our passion to invest in future generations of print leaders and women in STEM, as well as provide hands-on opportunities that provide insight and knowledge that otherwise may not have been achievable inside the classroom.”