Willi Müller Memorial Scholarship

The SPE Blow Molding Division awards the Willi Müller Memorial Scholarship on behalf of W. MULLER USA, Inc. W. MULLER USA, Inc. has pledged to support this scholarship with an annual donation of $3000. This scholarship is in honor of the company’s founder, Willi Müller, who was inducted into the Plastics Hall of Fame (posthumously) in 2013 for his many contributions to the Blow Molding Industry.

Qualifications for the Willi Müller Memorial Scholarship are as follows:

1. The applicant must be enrolled full time in a degreed undergraduate discipline in a science, technology, or engineering discipline
that is associated with the Plastics Industry. Qualified degrees include Plastics Engineering, Plastic Engineering Technology,
Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, and Materials Science. The applicant must attend a
school in the United States or Canada.

2. The applicant will have at least a 3.0 overall grade-point average (4.0 scale).

3. The applicant must be a member of an SPE Student Chapter or a member of SPE where no Student Chapter is available to the
student.

4. Preference will be given to applicants with experience in the extrusion blow molding industry (Courses completed, research
conducted, or jobs held).

5. The applicant will submit a brief essay with their application describing the importance of Extrusion blow molding to the technical
parts and packaging industry.

6. Should a qualifying candidate not be identified for this scholarship, no award will be granted by the SPE Blow Molding Division
Board of Directors.

Students can apply for this scholarship by visiting SPE Foundation Scholarships

Current and Past Recipients of the
Willi Müller Memorial Scholarship

(2026) Nathan Zook, Pennsylvania College of Technology

Nathan Zook is a rising senior and non-traditional student majoring in Plastic & Polymer Engineering Technology at Pennsylvania College of Technology. He has worked full-time while pursuing his degree, balancing leadership responsibilities in manufacturing with the demands of a full-time engineering course load. Since joining Playworld Systems in 2021, Nathan has served as a Lead Operator in the company's rotational molding facility since 2022, where he leads the department’s training team, supports quality and continuous improvement initiatives, and has completed formal leadership training through TWI's Job Relations program.

After gaining experience in composites manufacturing through vacuum resin

infusion and hand layup during the summer of 2024, Nathan returned to rotational molding, where he combines hands-on production experience with engineering and process improvement. This past summer, he led a project to implement and validate an infrared thermometry (IRT) monitoring system, using production data to improve process consistency and reduce cycle times. Nathan also serves as Vice President of Penn College's SPE student chapter.

Nathan has developed a particular interest in rotational molding, process optimization, and manufacturing leadership. He enjoys tackling projects that bridge engineering and production and looks forward to building a career in the plastics industry while helping advance rotational molding technology.

(2025) Pailey Vitale, University of Akron

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.

(2023) Kunal Garg, Texas Tech University

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.

(2022) Wyatt McGraw, Shawnee State University

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.

(2021) Justin Salyers, Shawnee State University

(2020) Jordan Howell, Kettering University

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.

(2019) Steven Vecchi, Penn State Erie, The Behrend College

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.

(2018) Demetri Blackwood - Kettering University

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.

(2017) Logan Tate - Pennsylvania College of Technology

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.