Student awarded scholarships from pulp and paper organization

Contact: Cindy Wagner

July 12, 2022

Isabelle Ownby (left) is working on toward degrees in chemical and paper engineering. She received $2,000 in scholarship awards at the annual TAPPI conference and is pictured with Deanna Durham, TAPPICON’s Woman of the Year, and Maja Mejsner, TAPPI’s Women in Industry division chair.

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Western Michigan University senior Isabelle Ownby has received $2,000 in scholarships from TAPPI, a professional organization focusing on technical aspects of the pulp, paper or converting industries.

Ownby is majoring in both paper and chemical engineering and pursuing a minor in mathematics.

“I’m honored to receive these scholarships for my education,” says Ownby. “TAPPI offers me many valuable opportunities to network with other industry professionals, meet some other paper engineering students from other colleges, and learn about important topics in the paper industry.”

Since starting college, Ownby already has participated in numerous experiences in the paper and pulp industry as a technical co-op at Greif, a process engineering intern at West Rock and a sales intern with Axchem USA. She has served as treasurer of WMU’s TAPPI Ts’ai Lun student chapter and has been named president of the organization for the 2022-23 academic year. She also works in WMU’s Paper Technology Foundation office, embracing the opportunity to regularly communicate with students and industry professionals.

“The paper and chemical engineering programs at WMU have challenged me, but have also been large contributors to my success as a student,” says Ownby. “The friendships and mentorships I've made along the way are priceless to me, and I'm thankful to have such a big support system as I finish my courses. Building my knowledge has always been a priority of mine, and WMU has helped me push toward that objective."

Ownby plans to graduate in spring 2023.

Western’s Department of Chemical and Paper Engineering offers bachelor, master and doctoral degrees and is internationally recognized in terms of high quality applied research and high caliber graduates. Through the support of the Paper Technology Foundation, which recruits students for the paper and allied industries and supports those students with competitive scholarships, students have received more than $6 million in scholarships.

Stay up-to-date on Ownby's career by connecting with her on LinkedIn.

For more WMU news, arts and events, visit WMU News online.