Brooklyn Peterson has been awarded the first Bill Bregar Memorial Scholarship.
Peterson is a junior communications major at Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kan. The scholarship was created by Plastics News parent company Crain Communications Inc., the Bregar family and the Society of Plastics Engineers to commemorate Bill Bregar's 31-year career as a PN reporter. Bregar died in April 2020.
Peterson hopes to serve as a communications specialist in the medical field.
"It is a true honor to be a recipient of the SPE Foundation Crain Communications Bill Bregar Memorial Scholarship," Peterson said in a news release. "It is no secret that our society is concerned about single-use plastics, and I will surely face those concerns in the medical field where plastic devices are limited to one-time use to avoid cross-contamination between patients.
"I hope to spread awareness and encourage discussion about the necessary role of plastics in the medical industry," she added.
The scholarship supports aspiring journalists and business communicators interested in plastics or manufacturing. Contributions can be sent to honor Bregar's excellence in journalism at the Bill Bregar Scholarship page on the SPE scholarship site, give.4spe.org.
Overall, the SPE Foundation managed 77 scholarships awarded to 47 students totaling $190,350 in 2021.
These scholarships, which are given to students who are pursuing degrees beneficial to the plastics industry, came from donations by individuals renewing their SPE membership, foundation scholarship funds, the Western Plastics Pioneers, the Plastics Pioneers Association and nine SPE technical chapters including extrusion, thermoforming, blow molding, automotive, composites, flexible packaging, injection molding, polymer modifier and additives, and thermoplastic materials and foams, as well as the Cleveland and Detroit chapters.
The scholarship application portal for 2022 will open Dec. 1. For more information on how to apply or to support plastics students, contact Eve Vitale at [email protected].
The SPE Foundation supports the development of plastics professionals by funding quality educational programs, grants and scholarships emphasizing science, engineering, sustainability and manufacturing while working to create inclusive opportunities for students around the world.