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.
![Anna Kent, a UW-Stout senior packaging major, recently received $9,000 in scholarships from two industry organizations.](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2022-11/kent%2Canna.png?h=e30f55c3&itok=On2uL1KF)
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.
![UW-Stout packaging majors Gretchen Subialka, left, and Annabelle Meyer, with Professor Robert Meisner, have received scholarships from the Minnesota chapter of the Institute of Packaging Professionals.](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2022-11/packagingscholarships_subialkameyer.jpg?h=f692311e&itok=E9_p_qgS)
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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