TAPPI scholarships support next generation of industry leaders

Each year, TAPPI is proud to offer multiple scholarship opportunities to graduate and undergraduate students in the pulp, paper, packaging and related industries. The deadline to submit applications for all Technical Division scholarships is February 15 for the following academic year.

TAPPI encourages students to apply for all of the scholarships for which they may qualify.

Scholarship application requirements vary by division and a general information form must also be completed. All scholarship winners will have to complete a W9 form, found here: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw9.pdf.

Technical Division Scholarships

The deadline for Technical Division Scholarships is February 15.

The Coating and Graphic Arts Division provides a $1,000 scholarship for students majoring in scientific or technical disciplines related to the manufacture and/or graphic arts use of coated paper and paperboard.

The Corrugated Packaging Division provides up to five $1,000 scholarships, and two $5,000 Memorial Scholarships each year, funded by endowments from both TAPPI and industry supporters, to students who demonstrate an interest in the corrugated industry and are full-time student in a two-year or a four-year college, university or technical school pursuing a career related to the corrugated industry.

Additional Corrugated Scholarships

The Terry S. Paulson Memorial Scholarship fund ($5,000) has been established by friends of Terry and Schwarz Partners for students pursuing further education in the maintenance and engineering area of the corrugated field. Application deadline is February 15.

The Joe Dieffenbacher Engineering Memorial Scholarship ($5,000) has been established by the Corrugated Packaging Council of TAPPI to be awarded to a student interested in entering the engineering area of the corrugated industry. Application deadline is February 15.

The Engineering Division provides two scholarship each year for undergraduate students who are interested in pursuing an engineering or science degree within the pulp and paper industry.  One scholarship, $2500, may be awarded to a student who will be in his or her junior year (Rising Junior).  One scholarship, $3000, may be awarded to a student who will be in his/her senior year at the beginning of the next academic year (Rising Senior). 

The Environmental Working Group offers the $3,500 Douglas Barton Memorial Scholarship to outstanding candidates in the area of environmental control as it relates to the pulp, paper, and allied industries.

The Fiberglass Mat Division  The Ron Franklin Memorial Fiberglass Mat Division Scholarship offers one $5,000 scholarship will be awarded. This scholarship is for talented science and engineering students that will pursue careers in the fiberglass mat (wet laid nonwoven) industry -which is related to Pulp and Paper- and to increase the potential of a successful engineering career among students with an interest in the fiberglass mat/nonwoven industry. 

The Flexible Packaging Division- The Daniel Siegel Memorial Scholarship encourages talented science and engineering students to pursue careers in the packaging industry and to develop awareness of the industry, and of the TAPPI International Flexible Packaging and Extrusion Division (IFPED).
This $7,000 scholarship is presented in even-numbered years, and will be awarded to a TAPPI Student Chapter member enrolled in a packaging or related major.  The scholarship is funded by an endowment from MICA Corporation and the Siegel family.  The International Flexible Packaging and Extrusion Division of TAPPI serves the interests of the industries relating to Flexible Packaging and Extrusion. Industries pertaining to these technologies include packaging, industrial films and laminations, blown and cast films extrusion, extrusion coatings and laminations, sheet extrusion and printing associated with these areas.
Special requirements:  Applicants must demonstrate an interest in the technological areas covered by the International Flexible Packaging and Extrusion Division. 

The International Flexible Packaging and Extrusion Division provides a $1,000 scholarship every even year to a student who is  pursuing a degree in packaging. Applications for this scholarship can be made through the  TAPPI Scholarship portal and all applications are due by February 15th of the year the  scholarship is to be given.

The Paper and Board Division provides one or more scholarships each year worth a minimum of $1,000 apiece to students who intend to use their talents for advancing the science and technology of papermaking. 

The Process and Product Quality Division provides at least one $1,500 John Walkinshaw Memorial Scholarship to talented science and engineering students who plan to pursue careers in the development of quality management awareness within the pulp and paper industry.

The Process Control Division provides a single $1,000 scholarship to engineering students who demonstrate an interest in the development of professional skills within the process control fields of the pulp and paper industry.

TAPPI Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Scholarship  A scholarship fund has been established in support of underrepresented populations which include, but are not limited to African American, Native American, Hispanic, and Latinx, Asian, Pacific Islander, LGBTQ+, and People with disabilities. All applicants must be students enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program, and demonstrate an interest in a career in paper, pulp, tissue and packaging. 

The William L. Cullison Scholarship

The William L. Cullison Scholarship was named in honor of our 5th Executive Director, who was an extraordinary industry leader. This scholarship provides support for students entering their third year of college to pursue an academic path related to a career in the pulp, paper, corrugated and converting industries.