A Visit to Virginia Tech's Packaging Center and TAPPI Student Chapter
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On a recent visit to Virginia Tech's Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design, students showed their enthusiasm for the packaging industry and the support of industry partners and organizations like TAPPI in their pursuit of packaging careers. With a new TAPPI student chapter recently formed this June, attendance at their chapter meeting was larger than expected.
On this evening in September, about 25 students were present, generating a lot of energy in the room. TAPPI provided renewal notices for sponsored memberships and invited new students to join TAPPI, their memberships recently sponsored by TAPPI's generous corporate partners. Visibly appreciative, even as we only had 20 sponsored memberships to give out and many more wanting to be TAPPI Members. Student Chapter Advisor Dr. Young Teck Kim mentioned there were at least an additional 10 students who were not present needing sponsored TAPPI memberships. The VA Tech Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design boasts nearly 40 active students in their program, and is working to make a four-year degree in Packaging a reality.
We spoke about TAPPI's enthusiasm around this unique chapter, about TAPPI Community, as well as the benefits of being connected to TAPPI, a lasting professional connection, something only TAPPI members can truly enjoy. Zack Shiner, the chapter president, spoke of the importance of being a part of organizations like TAPPI, and of course Dr. Kim spoke about how getting involved with TAPPI and connecting online can help with internships and jobs, as well as how the industry is global and thriving.
The following day, the Center hosted an Advisory Board meeting with at least 15 industry representatives, plus a few faculty and administrators and several students from the Packaging Center. Industry representatives were openly consulted on the skillsets needed in their respective businesses, as VA Tech wants to consider adding those areas of focus to an imminent Packaging curriculum. Among the topics were business and marketing, as well as preventing loss and damage, as the Center focuses on pallet development and quality and the role that pallets play in this, particularly with shipping internationally.
Students from the Center made presentations on their work, including a group summer project on pallet quality, stretch wrapping, and testing. Two PhD students presented and five undergraduate students presented on their work. It was clear that these students have a passion for what they are doing. Afterward, a reception in the Packaging lab of the Forest Products building provided a perfect venue to acknowledge significant equipment donations from industry representatives present at the meeting.
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