SPE Foundation 2026 Scholarship Award Recipients Announced

SPE Foundation 2026 Scholarship Award Recipients Announced

The SPE Foundation is proud to announce awarding $266,625 in scholarships to 70 students representing 40 universities, 34 degree programs, and 3 countries.

Each of these outstanding students has shown a clear passion for the plastics industry and a commitment to shaping its future. Whether majoring in plastics engineering, polymer science, chemistry, physics, mechanical or chemical engineering, industrial design, business management, they are all pursuing paths that contribute meaningfully to the world of plastics. Their academic journeys reflect the commitment and innovation that define our industry—and we’re proud to support them.

Scholar's Name
University
Degree Program
Scholarship Awarded Award Amount
Class Year
Scholar's Name Amir Abbas Abedini
University University of Connecticut
Degree Program Materials Science and Engineering
Scholarship Awarded
SPE Polymer Modifiers & Additives Division Scholarship
$2,000
Class Year Graduate Student
Scholar's Name Chase Ackman
University University of Southern Indiana
Degree Program Business Management
Scholarship Awarded
Crain Communications Bill Bregar Memorial Scholarship
$1,500
Class Year Junior
Scholar's Name Kunle Adeyemo
University Michigan State University
Degree Program Mechanical and Civil Engineering
Scholarship Awarded
Harold Giles SPE Composites Division Scholarship
$3,500
Class Year Graduate Student
Scholar's Name Abigail Alexander
University Purdue University
Degree Program Mechanical Engineering
Scholarship Awarded
Ed Steward SPE Extrusion Division Scholarship
$2,500
Class Year Sophomore
Scholar's Name Keith Angelescu
University University of Massachusetts Lowell
Degree Program Plastics Engineering
Scholarship Awarded
Rick Hoeske Plastics Pioneers Association Scholarship
$3,000
Robert G. Dailey SPE Detroit Section Scholarship
$2,500
Total
$5,500
Class Year Junior
Scholar's Name Utsab Roy Ayan
University University of Mississippi
Degree Program Chemical Engineering
Scholarship Awarded
SPE Polymer Modifiers & Additives Division Scholarship
$2,000
Class Year Graduate Student
Scholar's Name Bennett Brady
University Santa Clara University
Degree Program Business Management & AI, Computer Science
Scholarship Awarded
Western Plastics Pioneers Scholarship
$3,000
Class Year Sophomore
Scholar's Name Melanie Butenhoff
University University of Minnesota
Degree Program Materials Science Engineering & Chemistry
Scholarship Awarded
Adam Dreiblatt SPE Extrusion Division Scholarship
$2,500
Dow STEM Scholarship presented by the Plastics Hall of Fame
$2,500
Plastics Pioneers Association Scholarship
$3,000
SPE Polymer Modifiers & Additives Division Scholarship
$1,500
Total
$9,500
Class Year Junior
Scholar's Name Joseph Chorazy
University University of Wisconsin Stout
Degree Program Plastics Engineering
Scholarship Awarded
Donald McCoy Chicago SPE Scholarship
$10,000
Class Year Freshman
Scholar's Name Matthew Collins
University University of Wisconsin Stout
Degree Program Plastics Engineering and Mechanical Engineering
Scholarship Awarded
Nancy and Wylie Royce Guiding Star Scholarship presented by the Plastics H
$5,000
Class Year Senior
Scholar's Name Jackson Comes
University University of Washington
Degree Program Chemical Engineering
Scholarship Awarded
Future Blow Molding Professionals Internship Scholarship
$3,000
Class Year Graduate Student
Scholar's Name John Conklin
University Pennsylvania College of Technology
Degree Program Polymer EngineeringTechnology
Scholarship Awarded
SPE Injection Molding Division Scholarship
$2,000
SPE Foundation Scholarship
$2,000
Total
$4,000
Class Year Senior
Scholar's Name Isadora (Isa) Cook
University California State University Chico
Degree Program Advanced Manufacturing and Applied Robotics
Scholarship Awarded
Dennis Don Plastics Pioneers Association Scholarship
$3,000
Class Year Senior
Scholar's Name Adam Czader
University University of Houston
Degree Program Chemistry
Scholarship Awarded
Lone Star Plastics Pioneers Association Scholarship
$3,000
SPE Polymer Modifiers & Additives Division Scholarship
$1,500
Total
$4,500
Class Year Senior
Scholar's Name Srijan Das
University Wilson College of Textiles, North Carolina State University
Degree Program Fiber and Polymer Science
Scholarship Awarded
SPE Thermoplastics Elastomers Technical Interest Group Scholarship
$1,000
Class Year Graduate Student
Scholar's Name Carmen Byerly Dunn
University University of Southern Mississippi
Degree Program Polymer Science and Engineering
Scholarship Awarded
Dr. Jackie Rehkopf Scholarship
$5,000
Lew Erwin SPE Extrusion Division Scholarship
$5,000
Total
$10,000
Class Year Graduate Student
Scholar's Name Molly Garber
University University of Wisconsin Stout
Degree Program Plastics Engineering and Mechanical Engineering
Scholarship Awarded
Russell J. Gould SPE Extrusion Division Scholarship
$2,500
Norm Kakarala SPE Detroit Section Scholarship
$2,500
Total
$5,000
Class Year Senior
Scholar's Name Vivek Garg
University Iowa State University
Degree Program Chemical and Biological Engineering
Scholarship Awarded
SPE Thermoplastics Elastomers Technical Interest Group Scholarship
$1,000
Class Year Graduate Student
Scholar's Name Sakshyam Ghimire
University University of Southern Mississippi
Degree Program Polymer Science and Engineering
Scholarship Awarded
Gulf Coast Hurricane Scholarship
$2,000
Class Year Sophomore
Scholar's Name Dania Gonzalez
University Georgia Institute of Technology
Degree Program Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Scholarship Awarded
SPE Foundation Scholarship
$2,000
Brightmark Scholarship in Plastics Circularity
$3,000
Total
$5,000
Class Year Junior
Scholar's Name Abigail Halverson
University Western Washington University
Degree Program Polymer Materials Engineering
Scholarship Awarded
Plastics Pioneers Association Scholarship
$3,000
Western Plastics Pioneers Scholarship
$3,000
Total
$6,000
Class Year Junior
Scholar's Name Alex Hasbany
University University of Massachusetts Lowell
Degree Program Plastics Engineering
Scholarship Awarded
SPE Vinyl Plastics Division Scholarship
$2,000
Class Year Junior
Scholar's Name Sarah Hogan
University University of Pittsburgh
Degree Program Mechanical Engineering
Scholarship Awarded
Gail Bristol Scholarship
$1,500
DuPont® Tedlar™ Scholarship
$2,500
Total
$4,000
Class Year Junior
Scholar's Name Tianyuan Huang
University University of Cincinnati
Degree Program Mechanical Engineering
Scholarship Awarded
ALPS Inspection Engineering Excellence Scholarship
$2,500
Class Year Junior
Scholar's Name Paige Huh
University University of Cincinnati
Degree Program Chemical Engineering
Scholarship Awarded
M. Holland Plastics Pioneers Association Scholarship
$3,000
SPE Polymer Modifiers & Additives Division Scholarship
$1,500
Total
$4,500
Class Year Junior
Scholar's Name Lilah Husson
University Pennsylvania College of Technology
Degree Program Polymer Engineering Technology
Scholarship Awarded
SPE Foundation Scholarship
$2,000
Class Year Senior
Scholar's Name Sava Kassev
University University of California Berkeley
Degree Program Management, Engineering, and Technology: Mechanical Engineering and Business
Scholarship Awarded
Western Plastics Pioneers Scholarship
$3,000
M5D Skolaski Scholarship
$1,250
Total
$4,250
Class Year Sophomore
Scholar's Name Liam Kilgas
University Pennsylvania State University at Erie, The Behrend College
Degree Program Polymer Engineering and Science
Scholarship Awarded
Jonathan Meckley Memorial Scholarship
$2,500
Class Year Senior
Scholar's Name Elizabeth Kinzel
University University of Wisconsin Stout
Degree Program Plastics Engineering
Scholarship Awarded
Klouda Family Plastics Pioneers Association Scholarship
$3,000
Class Year Junior
Scholar's Name Tyler Kleinsasser
University Mississippi State University
Degree Program Industrial Engineering
Scholarship Awarded
Knauss Family Plastics Pioneers Association Scholarship
$3,000
Class Year Sophomore
Scholar's Name Hailey Kressin
University Colorado School of Mines
Degree Program Mechanical Engineering
Scholarship Awarded
Bob Swain Plastics Pioneers Association Scholarship
$3,000
Western Plastics Pioneers Scholarship
$3,000
Total
$6,000
Class Year Senior
Scholar's Name Reshma Krishnan
University University of Guelph
Degree Program Biological Engineering
Scholarship Awarded
SPE Polymer Modifiers & Additives Division Scholarship
$2,000
Class Year Graduate Student
Scholar's Name Stephanie Kuhn
University University of Wisconsin Stout
Degree Program Plastic and Mechanical Engineering
Scholarship Awarded
Russell J. Gould SPE Extrusion Division Scholarship
$2,500
Ruth Neward Plastics Pioneers Association Scholarship
$3,000
Salvatore J. Monte SPE Thermoplastic Materials & Foams Division Schol
$2,000
Total
$7,500
Class Year Senior
Scholar's Name Amy Kurr
University University of Tennessee Knoxville
Degree Program Energy Science and Engineering
Scholarship Awarded
SPE Automotive & Composites Conference & Exhibition Scholarship
$2,000
Class Year Graduate Student
Scholar's Name Amanda Labon
University Ferris State University
Degree Program Plastics Engineering Technology
Scholarship Awarded
Royce Family Plastics Pioneers Association Scholarship
$3,000
Class Year Senior
Scholar's Name Peter Lagerquist
University University of Wisconsin Stout
Degree Program Plastics Engineering and Manufacturing Engineering
Scholarship Awarded
Plastics Pioneers Association Scholarship
$3,000
Class Year Senior
Scholar's Name Felix Lizalde Arroyo
University University of Valladolid, Spain
Degree Program Physics, Advanced Materials
Scholarship Awarded
Salvatore J. Monte SPE Thermoplastic Materials & Foams Division Schol
$2,000
Class Year Graduate Student
Scholar's Name Nicholas Lopez
University University of Massachusetts Lowell
Degree Program Plastics Engineering
Scholarship Awarded
Adam Dreiblatt SPE Extrusion Division Scholarship
$2,500
SPE Foundation Scholarship
$1,500
Total
$4,000
Class Year Sophomore
Scholar's Name Claire Marble
University University of Wisconsin Stout
Degree Program Plastics Engineering and Manufacturing Engineering
Scholarship Awarded
Plastics Pioneers Association Scholarship
$3,000
Class Year Sophomore
Scholar's Name Jody Marion
University Florida Institute of Technology
Degree Program Environmental Science and Sustainability Studies
Scholarship Awarded
SPE Flexible Packaging Division Scholarship
$2,500
Class Year Sophomore
Scholar's Name Brandon McReynolds
University The University of Akron
Degree Program Polymer Engineering
Scholarship Awarded
Dr. Matthew and Mrs. Patricia Harthcock Applied Plastics Research Scholarship
$1,250
Class Year Graduate Student
Scholar's Name Mukta Mirlekar
University Wilson College of Textiles, North Carolina State University
Degree Program Fiber and Polymer Science
Scholarship Awarded
SPE Polymer Modifiers & Additives Division Scholarship
$2,000
Class Year Graduate Student
Scholar's Name Evan Moffet
University The Pennsylvania State University
Degree Program Materials Science & Engineering
Scholarship Awarded
DuPont® Tedlar™ Scholarship
$2,500
Class Year Senior
Scholar's Name Yousuf Mohammed
University University of Massachusetts Lowell
Degree Program Plastics Engineering
Scholarship Awarded
Thomas E. Powers SPE Detroit Section Scholarship
$2,500
Class Year Senior
Scholar's Name Emily Neale
University Clemson University
Degree Program Packaging Science
Scholarship Awarded
Plastics Pioneers Association Scholarship
$3,000
Class Year Junior
Scholar's Name Smarika Neupane
University University of Southern Mississippi
Degree Program Polymer Science and Engineering
Scholarship Awarded
SPE Polymer Modifiers & Additives Division Scholarship
$1,500
Class Year Junior
Scholar's Name Joyce O'Neal
University Pennsylvania State University at Erie, The Behrend College
Degree Program Plastics Engineering Technology
Scholarship Awarded
Norm Fowler Scholarship presented by the Plastics Hall of Fame
$5,000
Gail Bristol Plastics Pioneers Association Scholarship
$3,000
Total
$8,000
Class Year Junior
Scholar's Name Raj Kumar Pittala
University University of North Texas
Degree Program Biomedical Engineering
Scholarship Awarded
SPE Polymer Modifiers & Additives Division Scholarship
$2,000
Class Year Graduate Student
Scholar's Name Evan Portner
University Ferris State University
Degree Program Plastics Engineering Technology
Scholarship Awarded
Arthur Haas Scholarship
$2,500
Plastics Hall of Fame Jay Gardiner Memorial Scholarship
$1,000
Total
$3,500
Class Year Senior
Scholar's Name William Quintana
University Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Degree Program Chemical Engineering
Scholarship Awarded
Dow STEM Scholarship presented by the Plastics Hall of Fame
$2,500
Lew Erwin SPE Extrusion Division Scholarship
$5,000
Total
$7,500
Class Year Graduate Student
Scholar's Name Benjamin Rhoades
University Pennsylvania State University at Erie, The Behrend College
Degree Program Plastics Engineering Technology
Scholarship Awarded
Ed Steward SPE Extrusion Division Scholarship
$2,500
Class Year Freshman
Scholar's Name Arthur Richardson
University Western Washington University
Degree Program Polymer Materials Engineering
Scholarship Awarded
Mike Friend Plastics Pioneers Association Scholarship
$3,000
Western Plastics Pioneers Scholarship
$3,000
Total
$6,000
Class Year Senior
Scholar's Name Chandler Selk
University Ferris State University
Degree Program Plastics Engineering Technology
Scholarship Awarded
Glenn Beall Plastics Pioneers Association Scholarship
$3,000
Michael P. Sepe Memorial Scholarship
$2,125
Total
$5,125
Class Year Junior
Scholar's Name Tata Serebryany
University University of Washington
Degree Program Chemical Engineering
Scholarship Awarded
SPE Automotive & Composites Conference & Exhibition Scholarship
$2,000
Class Year Graduate Student
Scholar's Name Negar Shaghaghi
University Case Western Reserve University
Degree Program Macromolecular Science and Engineering
Scholarship Awarded
SPE Cleveland Section Scholarship
$1,500
Lew Erwin SPE Extrusion Division Scholarship
$5,000
Total
$6,500
Class Year Graduate Student
Scholar's Name Adhishree Shah
University University of Massachusetts Lowell
Degree Program Plastics Engineering
Scholarship Awarded
SPE Flexible Packaging Division Scholarship
$2,500
SPE Polymer Modifiers & Additives Division Scholarship
$1,500
Total
$4,000
Class Year Junior
Scholar's Name Asal Yousefi Siavoshani
University The University of Akron
Degree Program Polymer Science
Scholarship Awarded
SPE Automotive & Composites Conference & Exhibition Scholarship
$2,000
Irv Poston SPE Detroit Section Scholarship
$2,000
Total
$4,000
Class Year Graduate Student
Scholar's Name Jordyn Slater
University West Virginia University
Degree Program Chemical Engineering
Scholarship Awarded
SPE Pittsburgh Section Scholarship
$2,000
Class Year Sophomore
Scholar's Name Christian Sobande
University University of Massachusetts Lowell
Degree Program Plastics Engineering
Scholarship Awarded
Judy Swain Plastics Pioneers Association Scholarship
$3,000
Class Year Sophomore
Scholar's Name Luke Springman
University Pennsylvania College of Technology
Degree Program Polymer Engineering Technology
Scholarship Awarded
Carrie Fox Solin SPE Blow Molding DivisionMemorial Scholarship
$3,000
Class Year Senior
Scholar's Name Vespera Steiner
University University of Colorado Boulder
Degree Program Chemical Engineering
Scholarship Awarded
Plastics Pioneers Association Scholarship
$3,000
Western Plastics Pioneers Scholarship
$3,000
Total
$6,000
Class Year Freshman
Scholar's Name Stephen Stewart
University Kettering University
Degree Program Electrical Engineering
Scholarship Awarded
SPE Foundation Scholarship
$1,500
Carl Haas Scholarship
$2,500
Total
$4,000
Class Year Sophomore
Scholar's Name Stuart Swingruber
University Western Washington University
Degree Program Polymer Materials Engineering
Scholarship Awarded
ALPS Inspection Scholarship
$2,500
Adam Dreiblatt SPE Extrusion Division Scholarship
$2,500
Total
$5,000
Class Year Junior
Scholar's Name Niyati Tamang
University University of Southern Mississippi
Degree Program Polymer Science and Engineering
Scholarship Awarded
SPE Polymer Modifiers & Additives Division Scholarship
$1,500
Class Year Junior
Scholar's Name Jaye Wilson
University University of Houston Cullen College of Engineering
Degree Program Material Science & Engineering
Scholarship Awarded
Gulf Coast Hurricane Scholarship
$2,000
Class Year Graduate Student
Scholar's Name David Winkler
University Pennsylvania State University at Erie, The Behrend College
Degree Program Polymer Engineering and Science
Scholarship Awarded
SPE Pittsburgh Section Scholarship
$2,000
Class Year Senior
Scholar's Name Zixi Yuan
University The Pennsylvania State University
Degree Program Materials Science and Engineering
Scholarship Awarded
SPE Flexible Packaging Division Scholarship
$2,500
Class Year Sophomore
Scholar's Name Jimmy Zhao
University Georgia Institute of Technology
Degree Program Mechanical Engineering
Scholarship Awarded
SPE Foundation Scholarship
$2,000
Class Year Junior
Scholar's Name Mandy Zheng
University Case Western Reserve University
Degree Program Macromolecular Science and Engineering
Scholarship Awarded
SPE Cleveland Section Scholarship
$1,500
SPE Polymer Modifiers & Additives Division Scholarship
$2,000
Lew Erwin SPE Extrusion Division Scholarship
$5,000
Total
$8,500
Class Year Graduate Student
Scholar's Name Nathan Zook
University Pennsylvania College of Technology
Degree Program Plastic and Polymer Engineering
Scholarship Awarded
Harold Giles SPE Composites Division Scholarship
$3,500
Ted Neward Plastics Pioneers Association Scholarship
$3,000
Willi Müller SPE Blow Molding Division Scholarship
$3,000
Total
$9,500
Class Year Senior
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