Guillermo’s Life: One Big Project

Whether he’s designing soda cans or throwing pottery, Guillermo Baltazar-Munoz (’25) is always making something cool.

Guillermo knew early on that PLU was the right fit. “It was the closest school to home, only a 10-minute drive,” he said. With automatic admission and scholarships, it felt like doors opened for him without added stress.

At PLU, Guillermo majored in graphic design and explored all kinds of creative projects. “What I like about being a design major is the creative freedom […] there isn’t just one right answer,” he expressed. That sense of freedom showed up in a recent project where he designed soda cans inspired by unusual jelly bean flavors – like Buttery Popcorn and Cool Mint Toothpaste.

He also found an unexpected love for ceramics. “I wanted to drop my first ceramics class because I saw that everyone knew what they were doing, while I was just trying to figure everything out,” Guillermo admitted. But with support from his professor, he stuck with it – and now he’s taken multiple ceramics courses and even served as a teaching assistant. In his latest review, Guillermo said, “I [was] always excited to come to class […] to receive some wise advice and share a great laugh with my professor, Steve Sobeck.”

Outside of school, Guillermo stayed busy helping his dad’s landscaping business, volunteering at church, and spending time with his big, close-knit family. “We usually talk and laugh about things that are trending on the internet, goals and plans for the future, [and] memories that we have together,” he shared.

After graduation, Guillermo plans to find a job or internship in graphic design, keep supporting his church with creative work, and prepare for his wedding in August.

For Guillermo, college wasn’t about choosing between his passions and his responsibilities. It was about making space for both. And at PLU, he found the freedom to do just that.