The Future Leaders in Packaging Scholarship from Packaging World and the PMMI Foundation was established in 2011 in conjunction with Leaders in Packaging—a print and online marketing program that enables suppliers to promote their innovations and expertise to the packaging community. Check out this link to view a list of leading packaging suppliers who have chosen to participate in this program. Feel free to click on the companies to learn more about them.

A portion of Leaders in Packaging revenue funds the $5000 Scholarship—awarded each year to an educational institution that prepares students for careers in packaging. Each recipient institution then selecs a student or students to receive the funds to defray tuition and other education-related expenses in the next academic year. 

The 2022 scholarship has been awarded to Alexandria Technical & Community College, a member of Minnesota State, specifically the Center for Applied Mechatronics.

This year, the award was split between two deserving students, Matthias Rivers and Brendon Leuthold. 

Throughout Rivers youth, he was drawn to mechanical and electrical contraptions, demonstrating an aptitude early on that his parents nurtured in him. 

Said Richard Zdebski, Lynx National Golf Course and Rivers current employer, of him: "I am proud of Matthias and expect him to show leadership in college as he has shown [as an employee] on my golf course."

Similar to his co-winner, Leuthold has from a young age been interested in programming, electricity, and mechanical components. He joined the Central Lyon High School Robotics Team and built several functioning robots in competition against other schools. He also benefited from his parents recognition of his capability, and their support in his joining the Alexandria Mechatronics Program. 

Said Isaac Perrrine, Maintenance Manager at Simply Said and Leutholds employer, of him: "I have come to appreciate his honesty and diligent work ethic. He goes above and beyond in his ability to focus and be creative."

Both winners are first-year students of Alexandria Technical College. 

“Located in the epicenter of packaging machine manufacturing, the Mechatronics program here at Alexandria Tech College has graduated nearly 600 students over the past 20 years,” says Todd Zarbok, Instructor, Mechatronics, Alexandria Tech. “They are now employed as field service technicians, machine assemblers, electrical controls specialists, and CAD designer. This program has become a critical resource for growth and innovation for our local industries. The PMMI Educational membership has given this program access to numerous resources to grow our program and advance the skill sets of our graduates.”

The mechatronics curriculum at Alexandria Tech is defined and traceable to international standards, which include hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical, mechanical, PLC, and CAD design, with emphasis placed on installation and troubleshooting skills representing critical knowledge needed for success in the workplace.