Three UW-Stout packaging majors, Anna Kent, Gretchen Subialka and Annabelle Meyer, have been awarded scholarships for 2022-23 through the Institute of Packaging Professionals.
Kent, a senior from Eau Claire, received the $5,000 PepsiCo R&D scholarship, one of several awards she has received from IoPP. She also has received a $4,000 scholarship from TAPPI, the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry, and two other industry awards.
Subialka, a senior from Genoa, Ill., received $1,500 from the Minnesota chapter of IoPP.
Meyer, a junior from Ellsworth, received $500, also from the Minnesota IoPP.
UW-Stout is one of only a few schools in the U.S., and the only school in the UW System, that offers a bachelor’s degree in packaging. Recent graduates, 98% of whom were employed within one year of earning their degree, have an average starting salary of $66,000. There are more than 28 packaging scholarships available through the Stout University Foundation.
In 2021, CollegeValuesOnline ranked UW-Stout No. 26 in the U.S. for its ties to business and industry and how those ties benefit students.
We caught up with the three scholarship recipients to find out about the role UW-Stout has played in their success:
How will the awards make a difference in your education?
Kent: This allows me to focus on and explore these involvements with less stress towards part-time jobs. The scholarship money is very impactful because college expenses are stressful and this helps to diminish those stresses.
Subialka: The award provides me financial support for my degree. I am also very grateful for the opportunity to be recognized by the IoPP for my hard work.
Meyer: This scholarship will help pay for my tuition, so I do not have to get a part-time job. This will help me focus on my academics.
What has stood out about your experience at UW-Stout?
Kent: UW-Stout, as a school, puts in a tremendous amount of effort to prepare students for success. The packaging major does a wonderful job of exposing students to the industry early into their education. Courses expose us to group work, outside organization design challenges, lab work and more.
Subialka: What has stood out to me are opportunities like this, as well as the career fair. Being able to talk to industry professionals is very beneficial, especially when I will graduate, since I will already have connections.
Meyer: The staff here at Stout is always looking to help. Stout has the most friendly and caring people I’ve met. Whether it’s for a co-op opportunity or everyday tasks, someone has always been there to help me make decisions for the future.
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