RPTA SCHOLARSHIP

The Recycled Paperboard Technical Association has established (2) $5,000 scholarship to recognize outstanding students who are interested in the recycled paperboard industry.

 

To qualify, students must meet the following criteria:

  • Earn a 3.25 GPA
  • Declare a Paper Engineering or Science major
  • Served (or intend to serve) as a cooperative student or intern at a recycled paperboard mill
  • Comply with applicable requirements for maintaining paper foundation scholarships of your school
  • Comply with applicable scholarship policies of your school

Click here to access the 2023 Scholarship Application form.

ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY March 15, 2023.

For further information please contact: Jackie Howe at (202) 347-9069 or jhowe@rpta.org.

 

2023 RPTA SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

The 2023 recipients of the RPTA Scholarship were:

  • Alex Edward Boyd, Western Michigan University — Paper Engineering and Chemical Engineering

  • Isabelle Ownby, Western Michigan University — Paper Engineering and Chemical Engineering

The RPTA is excited about the opportunity to support college students pursuing degrees in paper science majors. Each year it's challenging to select just two recipients out of a group of very deserving applicants. All of the applicants are high academic achievers and have a great many hours working as interns in the pulp and paper industry.

These scholarships, by supporting their college studies, help prepare the students for careers in the pulp and paper industry. In the future, when they join our industry as leaders, they will certainly be focused on the industry's efforts to continuously improve the products our members make while conserving the natural resources used in our mills.This year's recipients, Boyd and Ownby, are excellent students and very accomplished individuals. We look forward to when they will become full-time members of our industry. Applications for the 2024 scholarship program will be available early next year.

This year's recipients, Boyd and Ownby, are excellent students and very accomplished individuals. We look forward to when they will become full-time members of our industry. Applications for the 2024 scholarship program will be available early next year

Isabelle Ownby was awarded the first annual “Joanne Arnold Scholarship”. Joanne Arnold worked at RPTA for over 25 years and played a significant role in the development of RPTA’s technical programs. This scholarship honors her commitment to her work and all that she did throughout her career to advance opportunities for women in engineering roles.

Alex Edward Boyd and Isabelle Ownby, both from Western Michigan University, receiving 2023 RPTA Scholarships from RPTA Chairman of the Board, Joe Michaud of Greif, Inc.

 


LATEST NEWS

Industry Benchmarking Survey
The 2025 Profile Study reports were distributed on September 1. Samples from 51 paper machines, collected during the first quarter of 2025, were blind-coded before testing and reporting.

The 2025 Profile Study reports and all past Survey reports can be accessed at this member-only page. In addition, each member company that participated in the Study received company-specific Excel workbooks that provide all Study data with their paper machines identified.

2025 Production-Technical Seminar
On May 5 and 6, 2025, we held our annual production-technical seminar. For the first time, our seminar content was embedded into TAPPICon, instead of being co-located with it. RPTA members attending provided positive feedback regarding the new format.

In addition to technical presentations, RPTA members had the opportunity to network with other members at our RPTA Lunch, Roundtable Breakfast, and Networking Room.

RPTA members can access the RPTA presentations at this member-only site.

Summer Webinar
On July 16th, we held a panel webinar - "Mill to Meaning: Career Stories in Recycled Paper": A diverse and experienced panel shared their career paths, insights, lessons learned, and inspirations. A recording of the webinar is available at this member-only webpage.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Fall Roundtable
Our Fall Roundtable will be held on October 15 & 16, in Brookfield, WI. We will hold a seminar on refining, followed the next day with tours of Valmet’s refiner foundry (in Waukesha, WI) and Greif’s Milwaukee, WI paperboard mill.

The Roundtable is free for our RPTA members, that is, for all employees of our RPTA member companies. Click here to register for Roundtable.

Plans for other Educational Events
Based on input from our members, the RPTA Operating Board is developing educational events on Waste Reduction; Coating Formulation and Application; Environmental; and Stickies Mitigation, to be held over the next year. Stay tuned for dates, times, and locations.