Willi Müller Memorial Scholarship

Pailey Vitale is a senior honors student at the University of Akron, majoring in Polymer Science and Engineering while pursuing a Professional Selling certificate. Pailey’s interests include polymer processing and sustainability. On campus, she leads Engineers for a Sustainable World, Zips Precious Plastics (ZPP), the Engineering Student Council, and the marching band. Pailey serves as an engineering representative for prospective students, sharing her Akron experiences. With ZPP, Pailey transforms recycled plastic into keychains through shredding and compression molding, utilizes injection molding, and engages in K–12 STEM outreach. This summer, Pailey interned at PPG in their protective coatings unit, formulating coatings for an inhibited topcoat with excellent corrosion protection. After graduation, she plans to pursue a career in the polymer industry.

Kunal Garg is a Chemical Engineer at Texas Tech University and will graduate with the highest honors distinction and a thesis in May of 2024. Kunal is an Engineering Diplomat and has minors in chemistry, math, and computer science. He is involved in AIChE, Mortar Board, SPE, and NSPE. Kunal has undergraduate research in developing new methods for extracting lithium from brine solutions and synthesizing coated microneedles for transdermal drug delivery. He has completed a Calibration Engineering Internship in Spain as well as a Controls Engineering Internship at a Valero Refinery. These experiences have taught Kunal valuable skills in laboratory techniques, data analysis, and real-time problem-solving. He is excited to bring his skillset and grow his career in the plastics industry.

Wyatt McGraw is in the Plastics Engineering Technology Program at Shawnee State University (Portsmouth, OH) and entered his senior year this Fall. Wyat has completed three internships in various plastics industries. He worked at CharterNex Films as a Production Technician and operated multi-layer extrusion blow molders. He gained knowledge  and experience  as a Junior Scientist at Airable Research Lab where he performed synthesis reactions, tested material properties, and completed research on materials and their uses. Most recently, Wyatt completed an internship at Magna Norplas. He looks forward to completing his degree and entering the workforce in the plastics industry.

Justin Salyers is currently a junior majoring in Plastics Engineering Technology at Shawnee State University in Portsmouth, Ohio. Justin has made the dean’s list every semester and plans to graduate in the Spring of 2023.

Jordan Howell is a current senior at Kettering University pursuing a dual major in Industrial Engineering and Applied Mathematics. Leaving my hometown of Kingston, Jamaica, with the mindset to pursue a career in Actuarial Science and Computer Science, I was sure of what I needed to not only complete my undergraduate studies in the aforementioned fields, what connections I should make and the necessary experiences I should have. However, my path changed significantly after being gaining an internship with Lear Corporation which opened my eyes to the field of engineering, given me a specific interest in the plastics industry. After getting involved in the many projects, joining the plastics club at my university and focusing my efforts in educating younger students of the benefits of gaining a career in the plastics industry, this sparked my interest even further to obtain a career in the plastics industry.

My name is Steven Vecchi and I am currently studying at Penn State Behrend. I am in my senior year majoring in Plastics Engineering and Technology. I have a huge interest in this field because I believe that the plastics industry is such an important part of the lives of every person and business. I also believe that it is at the forefront of innovative means of providing less expensive and ecologically friendly products in the future. I would like to use my education from the nationally recognized Plastics Engineering program at Behrend to become an important part of this exciting and progressive career.

Demetri Blackwood is currently studying Engineering and Business at one of the world's finest STEM+B universities; Kettering University formerly known as General Motors Institute (GMI).

The unique co-op program at Kettering University has allowed Demetri to work at various companies that engineer plastic parts. In fact, he had his first co-op experience fresh out of his first year at Plastic Omnium – a tier one supplier of plastic fuel tank systems. At Plastic Omnium Demetri worked on the team that led the development of plastic fuel systems from prototype to production which was then supplied to the big three in the automotive industry; General Motors, Fiat-Chrysler and Ford. 

Demetri has held several leadership roles over the course of his college career. He’s popular among the international community on campus where he serves as the primary student liaison for exchange students and has successfully led the international club as President for two consecutive semesters. He is also a part of the Kettering Leader’s endowment and a leading member of the Plastic Engineering Club there.  

Demetri hopes to graduate from Kettering University by December 2019 after which he hopes to work for a couple years’ in the areas of developing technologies and philanthropy namely 3D-printing houses for the less fortunate in third world nations. After this he holds ambitions of getting an MBA from the Harvard Business School.

 Logan Tate is a rising senior studying Plastics and Polymer Engineering Technologies at Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport, PA.  Currently he is serving a consecutive term as the SPE Student Chapter President at Penn College, a club recognized for their excellence at ANTEC 2017.

During Summer 2017, Logan worked as a Plastics Engineering Intern at B. Braun Medical’s headquarters in Allentown Pennsylvania.  During his summer experience, he worked in both the extrusion and injection molding departments.  In extrusion, Logan was working with medical and surgical tubing.  Here he worked with high speed extrusion lines, co-extruded tubing, striped tubing, wire encapsulation, multi-lumen, bump tubing, and paratubing.  He was also able to work closely with the engineers involved in installing new extrusion lines, assisted during operations qualifications, and produced samples for product qualifications.  As for injection molding, Logan spent most of his time assisting the engineers with mold validations and conducting RCAs.

While in school, Logan has been working for the Plastics Innovation & Resource Center as a Research Assistant.  Here he works with clients on a variety of projects including process optimization/validation, product/material development, and assist with Workforce Development & Training workshops.

Logan earned a B.S. in Physics from Lock Haven University in 2015 and is excited to combine it with a B.S. in Plastics and Polymers Engineering Technologies in May 2018.  He is excited to start exploring full-time opportunities that will utilize his educational and professional experiences in the arena of plastics engineering.  Tate has a passion for operational excellence and strives to be at the forefront of innovation.