Blog
What a Co-op Really Is, and Why It Matters So Much
Ask a few engineers when their careers really came into focus, and you will hear the same answer more often than you might expect. It was a co-op. Not a class. Not a lecture. A co-op. A stretch of real, paid work in industry that they took on while they were still...
Meet the Volunteers Who Give UMPPF Its Heart
Some people believe in the next generation of engineers enough to give them their time. That is the simplest way to describe the volunteers behind UMPPF. They are the person across the table at a scholarship interview, the familiar face at Consider Engineering, the...
Eleven Students, One College Course, and a First Look at Chemical Engineering
This fall, 11 students at Presque Isle High School will do something most students never get to do this early. They will take a real University of Maine course, for real college credit, before they have finished high school. The course is CHE 112, Introduction to...
Made in Maine, Headed South: Our STEM Kits Are Going the Distance
There is a question at the center of every UMPPF STEM Kit, and it is one of the most important questions in modern materials science: can we create a real alternative to plastic? This summer, that question is being explored in classrooms in Maryland and Massachusetts,...
UMPPF’S McKenna Goulette Recognized with Tappi Young Professionals Division Leadership and Service Award
The University of Maine Pulp + Paper Foundation is proud to celebrate McKenna Goulette for receiving the TAPPI Young Professionals Division Leadership and Service Award at TAPPICon 2026. Presented annually by TAPPI, the award recognizes individuals who have...
No Two Days Are the Same: What Our Graduates Are Walking Into
Graduation is a threshold. On one side, four years of coursework, late nights, co-ops, and friendships that will last a lifetime. On the other, a career that, if our alumni are any indication, will take you places you never expected. At UMPPF, we have been proud to...
A Legacy of Leadership: Honoring Mr. Kowlzan
At this year’s Paper Days, the University of Maine Pulp + Paper Foundation presented its Honor Award to Mr. Kowlzan, Chairman and CEO of Packaging Corporation of America. This recognition reflects not only a distinguished career but a lasting impact on students, the...
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...
UMaine Pulp + Paper Foundation