KALAMAZOO, Michigan -- The Western Michigan University Paper Technology Foundation is a 501(c)(3) corporation founded by industry leaders in 1958.
The mission of the corporation has been and continues to be to support the Department of Chemical and Paper Engineering at Western Michigan University. The Paper Technology Foundation's primary roles have been to recruit students for the paper and allied industries and support those students with competitive scholarships. In the last 10 years, the foundation has awarded more than $2 million in scholarships.
"We currently have 117 students in the program with a goal of 140 in the next few years. The sustainability of our industry has inspired a new generation of students," said Cindy Gleaton, Recruitment and Outreach Specialist, Chemical and Paper Engineering at Western Michigan. "We have a staff and board of trustees that are passionate about the program. We have achieved funding for 2 named endowed professor positions to recruit industry talent. We have also seen an increase in endowment giving to support our growing scholarship needs."
Paperitalo Publications was able to catch up with Caleb Breining, who is a junior in the program. We asked him a few questions about his experiences at Western Michigan.
What attracted you to the Department of Chemical and Paper Engineering program?
Initially, I was looking to pursue a degree in Chemical Engineering. After receiving a tour of the Pilot Plant at the engineering campus and hearing all the incredible opportunities the program had, I immediately knew that I wanted to continue my academic pursuits in both Chemical and Paper Engineering.
Were you looking into pulp and paper when you were in high school?
I had never heard of pulp and paper prior to taking my tour of Western Michigan. When I was touring, I was planning on pursuing a degree in Chemical Engineering. During the tour, I was taken around the Pilot Plant that Western has at the engineering campus. While on the tour, the tour guide, Cindy Gleaton, was telling me all about the incredible opportunities with the Paper Engineering program, including the opportunity to pursue a double major in both Chemical and Paper Engineering. After that day, I knew I had to take the chance and pursue a double major.
Tell us about the internships and/or co-ops you have had.
I have had one internship and one co-op so far, both of which were with the same company, Smurfit Westrock. My internship was right after freshman year, which I had the opportunity to work down in Cottonton, Alabama. I was a process control engineering intern where my work focused around the powerhouse and chemical recovery processes. Most of my projects revolved around creating new controls or modifying existing controls for many of the different areas of both the chemical recovery and powerhouse systems. As for my co-op, it was a part-time co-op during the spring semester of my sophomore year which went through the end of the summer. I had a couple gaps in my schedule during the spring, which allowed me to work part time since I was working in Battle Creek, Michigan as a process engineering co-op. As a process engineer, I spent much more time around the actual paper making machine and its processes. A lot of my projects consisted of improving the processes around the machine to help increase the efficiency and runnability of the machine. This summer, I will be working with Smurfit Westrock at their location in West Point, Virginia.
What does this program mean to you?
There are not enough words to properly describe what this program has meant to me. If you had asked me in the beginning, I would have been very hesitant about it, but it has been the greatest decision I have ever made. I have made many amazing connections, not only with my classmates, but also with students from other schools pursuing similar degrees, and even industry professionals. Through these connections, I have been able to pursue numerous incredible opportunities, such as internships and co-ops, travelling the country, and learning countless amounts of valuable information about life and industry. This program has presented me with countless incredible opportunities in many aspects of my career and academic experience.
Where do you see yourself in five and 10 years, and what are your career aspirations?
In the next five years, I will have completed additional schooling to earn my MBA, and with that, I hope to see myself working towards pursuing promotions within the Pulp and Paper Industry. As for the next ten years, I will hopefully have started working my way into the corporate level for a company, for my career aspirations are to one day become a higher up corporate level representative.
What would you recommend to anyone who might be interested in getting into pulp
and paper?
If there is anyone who is considering going into the pulp and paper industry, my only bit of advice would be to take a chance. When I first came to Western Michigan, I was unsure as to if this program was what I wanted to go into, but it was the greatest decision I had ever made. It may be intimidating at first, especially if you have no knowledge of it like I did, but I can promise you it will be worth it. All it takes is a chance. Learn how to find comfort in the uncomfortable, that's the best way to grow. If you push yourself out of your comfort zone and at least try it, I can promise you will grow from that experience.
Please let us know of anything else of interest about your experiences in the program.
The Paper Engineering program is much more than just academics. People say the program is like a "Paper Family", and once you get into the program you see exactly why. Everyone in the program, and anyone who has been through the program, is extremely friendly and helpful. Everyone is always looking out for others and pushing others to take advantage of unique opportunities.
Please tell us what year you are in the program, your hometown, and anything
interesting you might do in your free time.
Year in program: Junior / 3rd year
Hometown: Napoleon in Jackson, Michigan
Free time: Whenever I'm outside the classroom, you'll more than likely find me working alongside the rest of the Ts'ai Lun Eboard on projects, working out, or just hanging out with friends. I am also the president of the school's trapshooting club, so that tends to take up some of my time throughout the week as well.
