Imaginative, artistic and colorful bookmarks—96,000 of them—will soon make their way into the pages of books being read by children across Indiana, thanks to a collaborative effort between students from Ball State and Sutton Elementary School in Muncie.

The project, called "Drawn to Reading," exposes elementary and university students to the graphic communications and printing industry and promotes literacy.

After fourth- and fifth-grade students designed the bookmarks, Ball State students converted them into digital files. They retouched the images for visual appeal and readability. Printing press manufacturer MAN Roland donated the printing work at its center in Westmont, Ill.

Hans Kellogg, who coordinated the project at Ball State, said his students enjoyed helping the children with the bookmarks and definitely "connected" with the elementary school students. 

"I liked that connection," said Carol Burt, who coordinated the project at Sutton. "I think this is a good link between the university and public schools. My students' faces lit up when they saw the final product. They thought it was pretty awesome."

Kellogg says Indiana has more than 13,000 employees in the graphic communications and printing industry. He wants "Drawn to Reading" to introduce university and elementary students to career possibilities in the industry.

"I think my students gained an understanding about working with clients and interaction with a real job," Kellogg said.

"It gives younger students an opportunity to see what else an artist can do besides making something for a museum," said Burt.

This is the third year for "Drawn to Reading," which has now produced more than 160,000 bookmarks.