2024 Student Summit Adventures!
The TAPPI Student Chapter of NCSU recently traveled to Greenville, SC with 44 Paper Science and Engineering students to attend the annual TAPPI-PIMA Student Summit. The summit provided students with opportunities to connect with industry professionals and students from 14 other chapters through insightful breakout sessions, roundtable discussions, and fun group activities.
The New Generation of the Pulp and Paper Industry
Throughout the summit, students were introduced to the 25 sponsoring organizations representing manufacturing, sales, consulting, and higher education. On Saturday, over 150 students were invited to attend the career fair where they could introduce themselves to company representatives and sign up for interviews on the spot. Sydney Ford, a senior graduating this December, explained how the career fair “provides students the chance to make connections with companies by showing the different paths a student can take, whether it be manufacturing, management, consulting, or something else.”
An officer from each chapter had the chance to highlight their accomplishments from the last year during a panel on Sunday evening. NCSU Chapter President, Bryanna Lawry, and Vice President, Samuel Webb, shared fundraising success from the second annual TAPPI Formal held last November, the array of different leadership positions in the chapter, and the retention and participation from first year students. Sixteen graduating seniors had the chance to cross the stage and receive their green chords symbolizing their commitment to TAPPI and the goal of making the paper industry a more sustainable, diverse, and creative place. The Department is so proud of their hard work and dedication to our program!
Leading by Learning
One of the most beneficial parts of the annual conference is the amount of work experience and knowledge packed into one room. The challenge is finding time to share it all! This year, TAPPI elected to present a variety of topics in the Pecha Kucha style sponsored by Jacobs. Each presenter told their story using 20 slides with 20 seconds of commentary on each. Topics included career mapping, the humble toilet paper roll, and the art of paper currency. The weekend was also filled with roundtable discussions. Cori Sutton, a graduating senior in PSE, enjoyed “learning about the different types of team members through W.I.D.G.E.T. and using it to most effectively work together. Whether you are a creative thinker, an encourager, or someone to round out the final details, everyone plays a vital role in supporting the team and achieving their goal. I will definitely be using it in future group projects and work assignments.”
The theme of Student Summit revolved around the idea of creating new leaders by sharing experiences, both positive and negative. The TAPPI-PIMA management division delivered the keynote discussion highlighting 360 degree leadership, emphasizing that “everyone has influence, but it’s what you choose to do with your influence that makes you a good leader.”
Building Your Network Can Be Fun!
Student Summit allows college students to learn from industry leaders, but also from each other! Although the formal sessions were interesting, it was also important for students to enjoy their time in Greenville. Saturday night consisted of TAPPI Trivia, which quizzed attendees on their technical knowledge of pulp and paper history, equipment, and processes. Teams were composed of students from different schools, and created a fun (but definitely competitive!) environment. These teams met again the next day for the annual engineering competition, with the challenge being to create a Rube Goldberg machine with as many steps as possible to achieve the end goal of rolling out exactly fourteen inches of toilet paper. The teams had a great time getting to put their engineering skills to use, and several NCSU students took home first place! On the last night in South Carolina, students met up at Group Therapy, an arcade and game center downtown, for a fun night of camaraderie organized by the group from Western Michigan University.
To close out the weekend, NC State TAPPI had the opportunity to tour a WestRock facility in Cowpens, SC. The 100% recycled mill makes approximately 220,000 tons of linerboard and medium per year, using a unique, closed-loop water treatment system, and has a relatively new machine built in 1992. This was the first recycled mill that some of the students had seen in-person, and it provided the chance for them to discuss their experiences from past internships and co-ops. The NC State chapter is incredibly grateful for WestRock’s continued support for our soon-to-be young professionals. With that, the 2024 TAPPI Student Summit officially came to a close. Students learned important skills to take with them into their work and personal lives, and are excited to attend next year’s summit in St. Petersburg, FL!
