The SPE Blow Molding Division and Board of Directors extends warm congratulations and sincere appreciation to all the outstanding winners and participants of the 2024 scholarship and parts competitions.
At the core of the Blow Molding Division’s mission is its dedication to promote, communicate and disseminate knowledge pertaining to the art and science of blow molding. These awards not only recognize excellence but also serve as a testament to our collective pursuit of advancing the field.
For more details on the parts competition, scholarships and internship opportunities, visit www.blowmoldingdivision.org.
2024 scholarship winners
• Carrie Fox Solin Memorial Scholarship
Morgan Bartholomew is from Etters, Pa. This fall, Morgan will be a senior at Pennsylvania College of Technology, majoring in plastics and polymer engineering technology. She is heavily involved with her college’s SPE, where she plans club events and activities. Morgan has had several officer positions and currently acts as the SPE chapter president.
She is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and is a student ambassador at her college, which allows her to act as a liaison between Penn College and prospective students/families, alumni and others.
The SPE Blow Molding Division began awarding this scholarship – its first – in 1991. It is named in memory of Carrie Fox Solin, who made numerous contributions to the plastics industry and served on the division’s board of directors from 1987 until her untimely death in 1990. The board awards this $3,000 scholarship to support and encourage students interested in pursuing careers in the blow molding industry.
• Future Blow Molding Professionals Internship Scholarship
Nick Frederick is a senior at Penn State Behrend studying plastics engineering technology. He is originally from Clarion, Pa., and went to Clarion Area High School. In his free time, Nick enjoys spending time outdoors, walking his dog, working out, golfing and spending time with his family.
He has held two internship positions over the past four years relating to the blow molding industry. His first experience was in a co-op at Thermo Fisher Scientific where he was able to work on process development and new machine and product implementation. This is where he first discovered his passion for blow molding and the bright future he has in the industry. This past summer, he interned at Greif Inc., where he worked on process improvement strategies for the company's drum manufacturing facility.
The Future Blow Molding Professionals Internship Scholarship was established in 2021 by the division to support students seeking experiential learning opportunities in the blow molding industry. The board provides a scholarship of $3,000, sponsored by W. Müller USA Inc.
• Willi Müller Memorial Scholarship
Abby Mastromonaco is an undergraduate student majoring in plastics engineering at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Led by a passion for sustainability, she has experience as a research assistant studying the enzymatic recycling of PET and has completed an internship at a sustainable hydrogen production startup.
She has held several leadership positions, including VP of the Society for Plastics Engineers, president of Tau Beta Pi and VP of the Student Society for Sustainability.
After completing her undergraduate degree, Abby plans to pursue a master’s degree in plastics engineering and aims to work in a role focused on sustainability.
The division awards the Willi Müller Memorial Scholarship on behalf of W. Müller USA, which supports this scholarship with an annual donation of $3,000. It is named for the company’s founder, Willi Müller, who was inducted into the Plastics Hall of Fame posthumously in 2013 for his many contributions to the blow molding industry.
Lewis E. Ferguson Blow Molded Parts Competition
Lew Ferguson, a member of the SPE Blow Molding Division Board of Directors, established the Annual Blow Molded Parts Competition in 2013 to highlight advancements and innovations in blow molding design and applications. He shaped and initiated the program, applying an incredible amount of effort to ensure its success and was recognized across the blow molding and plastics industries for his passion to recognize and celebrate new parts designs.
Apply at blowmoldingdivision.org/2024-parts-competition-overview. The entry deadline is Aug. 15 with a shipment deadline of Aug. 29.
The 2024 winners were:
• Packaging Division, First Place: Dura-Lite 2.0 (1-gallon milk jug)
Submitted by John Manderfield; submitting companies; and OEMs, Altium Packaging and Uniloy Inc.
Notes: Decreases typical 1-gallon milk weight from 62 grams to 56 grams, resulting in cost savings and sustainability. Retains high vertical load resistance, comparable to typical square dairy designs. Suitable crush resistance for snap cap applications. Optimized to process on Uniloy reciprocating blow molding equipment. Widens blow molding process window.
• Industrial Division, First Place: HydroWing Pro (training aid for swimmers)
Submitted by Juan Nieto; submitting company, Blow Molded Solutions; OEM, Primis.
Notes: Multi-purpose tool for teaching and training the fifth stroke underwater. It can do everything a kick board does and more. Improves fundamental swimming techniques and builds power.
• People's Choice Award: JL Audio - Can Am Storm Audio Roof (roof installation for ATVs with audio system)
Submitted by Juan Nieto; submitting company, Blow Molded Solutions; OEM, Primis
Notes: The speaker configuration is specially designed to provide an optimized audio experience. Easy installation and weather resistance. LED lighting and music via smartphone without affecting battery charge.
Lifetime Achievement Award
The Blow Molding Division's Lifetime Achievement Award, the division's highest award, is bestowed upon an individual who has demonstrated outstanding achievements and contributions to the business, science and technical engineering aspects in the field of blow molding.
The awardee is selected by the Blow Molding Division's Board of Directors from nominees sponsored by the members of the Society of Plastics Engineers and includes a consideration of the candidate’s professional record inside and outside of the industry and the continuing effects the candidate’s work has had in the industry.
The awardee is presented with an engraved plaque during the awards program and reception at the Annual Blow Molding Conference, and a donation in his or her name is made to the division’s Grant Fund.
Submit a nomination at https://tinyurl.com/LTAblowmolding or scan the QR code included here.
This article appeared in the spring 2025 issue of The Journal of Blow Molding.
© 2025, Society of Plastics Engineers Blow Molding Division
Lynne Sherwin | Managing Editor
Managing editor Lynne Sherwin handles day-to-day operations and coordinates production of Plastics Machinery & Manufacturing’s print magazine, website and social media presence, as well as Plastics Recycling and The Journal of Blow Molding. She also writes features, including the annual machinery buying survey. She has more than 30 years of experience in daily and magazine journalism.
