The SPE Blow Molding Division and Board of Directors recognized the winners and participants of the 2025 scholarship and student design competitions during the Annual Blow Molding Conference in Pittsburgh.
Four scholarship winners and three student design teams were honored.
Carrie Fox Solin Memorial Scholarship
Landon Douvlos is a senior studying plastics engineering technology at Penn State Behrend. He is passionate about polymer processing, mold design and hands-on problem-solving in manufacturing. He has completed internships focusing on injection molding, mold flow simulation and quality improvement projects. He is also active in the Penn State Plastics Club and enjoys collaborating with peers on industry-related projects. His career goal is to contribute to advancements in plastics and manufacturing efficiency. He appreciates every opportunity to learn from professionals in the field and looks forward to a future in plastics engineering.
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 passing in 1990. To support and encourage students interested in pursuing careers in the blow molding industry, the board awards this $3,000 scholarship to a qualifying student.
Willi Müller Memorial Scholarship
Pailey Vitale is a senior honors student at the University of Akron (UA), majoring in polymer science and engineering while pursuing a Professional Selling certificate. Her interests include polymer processing and sustainability. On campus, she leads Engineers for a Sustainable World, Zips Precious Plastics (ZPP), the Engineering Student Council and the marching band. She serves as an engineering representative for prospective students, sharing her UA experiences. With ZPP, she recycles plastic into keychains through shredding and compression molding, utilizes injection molding and engages in K–12 STEM outreach. She interned at PPG Industries Inc. in the protective coatings unit, formulating coatings for an inhibited topcoat with excellent corrosion protection. She plans to pursue a career in the polymer industry.
The division awards the Willi Müller Memorial Scholarship on behalf of W. Müller USA Inc., which supports the 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.
Future Blow Molding Professionals Internship Scholarship
Joseph Rode attends Kettering University as an A-section Senior III chemical engineering major with a minor in sustainability. He has worked for a pharmaceutical supplier as a quality engineer intern during co-op terms, and as a quality assurance laboratory co-op for a plastics compounding company. His work there, along with running quality control tests, included operating injection molding machines.
The Future Blow Molding Professionals Internship Scholarship was established in 2021 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.
ALPS Inspection Scholarship
Sarah Witte attends the University of Arizona (UA) where she studies systems engineering with a minor in biosystems engineering and food studies. This summer, she participated in a research cohort for the ROOTS program, which involves researching light wavelength effects on lettuce plants at UA’s Controlled Environment Agriculture Center. This experience has supported her effort to go into the food manufacturing industry, as many plastics and quality controls go into commercial food processing. Sarah resides in Phoenix and loves cooking, art and community service in her free time.
The ALPS Inspection Scholarship, established in 2025, provides a $2,500 award to an undergraduate student with experience in blow molding, packaging and/or recycling.
Student Design Competition recognizes 3 teams
The SPE Blow Molding Division conducts the annual Student Design Contest to promote interest in blow molding applications. The division offers $1,000 for first prize to a student or group of students who submit the winning entry. A travel allowance is also offered so the winner(s) can present their proposal at the SPE Annual Blow Molding Conference.
Winners of the student design competition, held annually since 2001, were honored during the dinner cruise at ABC 2025. A $1,000 prize is awarded for first place, along with a travel allowance for the winner(s) to present their proposal at ABC.
Seven teams entered the competition, which was judged by a panel of professionals from the Board of Directors. Entries were judged on novelty, feasibility and documentation quality.
All three winning teams hailed from Penn State Behrend.
Taking first place were Drew Tracy, Andrew Pfister and Kaitlyn Ezzone with the “AquaBloom Floating Hydroponic Plant Bed.” Judges’ praise included: “novel application,” “good document and research,” “very feasible all the way around,” “neat idea and nice design.”
Second place went to Michael Quinn, Keegan Watkins and Payton McKee for “0.22 Rifle Stock,” and third place went to Michael Carrarini, Shawn Snatchko and Landon Douvlos for “Reflective Pavement Markers.”
For more details on the competitions, scholarships and internship opportunities, visit www.blowmoldingdivision.org.
This article appears in the fall 2025 issue of The Journal of Blow Molding.
© 2025, Society of Plastics Engineers Blow Molding Division
About the Author
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.