Blog
From Classrooms to Lifelong Commitments: A Look Back at UMPPF Love Stories
At the University of Maine Pulp and Paper Foundation, we often measure success in scholarships awarded, co-op placements secured, and careers launched. We talk about leadership development, networking, and 100 percent job placement. Those outcomes matter. They are the...
From Curiosity to Career: How to Inspire the Next Generation of Pulp and Paper Engineers
The pulp and paper industry is evolving rapidly, with advancements in sustainable packaging, bio-based materials, and innovative manufacturing. But the future of the field depends on something simpler: curiosity. When students begin asking questions like "How is paper...
Beyond the Books: How UMaine’s Tradition Societies Shape UMPPF Scholars
At the University of Maine, engineering students are known for their technical ability, resilience, and work ethic. But for some of the university’s most engaged student leaders, growth extends beyond co-ops and classrooms. Through tradition societies — respected...
The Art + Science of Papermaking: A Living Legacy of Innovation
When most people think about paper, they don’t imagine rocket ships, nail polish, or ice cream. They certainly don’t think about artificial intelligence or carbon capture. But the story of paper — what it is, where it comes from, and how it’s used — is one of the most...
Breaking Barriers: Women Engineers and Leaders Shaping a Sustainable Future
When you hear "chemical engineer," what comes to mind? Someone in a lab coat mixing dangerous chemicals? Think again. Chemical engineering is one of the most dynamic, diverse, and impactful fields in engineering today — and women have been at the forefront of...
Where Are They Now: Spenser Steeves
Spenser Steeves didn’t know exactly where engineering would take him when he left his hometown of Skowhegan, Maine. That started to change after attending Consider Engineering, where he first learned about the chemical engineering program at the University of Maine...
How to Nail Your Next Interview
Fall is an exciting time at UMaine! A new semester is underway, and it also signals the start of our annual fall interview sessions. Each year, companies from all over the US visit campus to meet with engineering students and hold interviews for co-ops, internships,...
Student Q&A: Advice for Future UMaine Engineers
If you’re thinking about attending UMaine or joining the UMaine Pulp and Paper Foundation, you’re probably wondering what it’s really like. How do co-ops work? Is the workload manageable? Is there support when you need it? While we’re always here to answer your...
Advice for First-Year Students (From Those Who’ve Been There)
Starting college can feel like a big leap. You’re finding your people, establishing new routines, and navigating everything from laundry to lab reports. It’s a lot. Luckily, many UMaine Pulp + Paper Foundation (UMPPF) students have been there—and they’re proof that...
What’s A Co-op?
You’ve probably heard of internships, but have you heard of co-ops? If you’re an engineering student at the University of Maine, or thinking about becoming one, then it’s a term you’ll probably want to become familiar with. First Things First: What Is It? A co-op...
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