SPE CAD Scholarship Information

The Scholarship Application will be completely online.
See below for Scholarship Eligibility Criteria
Applications for 2024-2025 academic year are no longer being accepted.

Congratulations to the 2023-2024 CAD Scholarship Recipients!

The Society of Plastics Engineers Color and Appearance Division (SPE CAD) has scholarships available for qualified individuals.

Five of the scholarships have been dedicated to remarkable people in our industry.

The endowment fund for the scholarships is the brainchild of one of SPE CAD’s past presidents, Gary Beebe.

Gary Beebe created and spent many of his years on the board shepherding this project. His commitment and perseverance from creating the funding mechanism, growth and maintenance plans and finally working on the distribution of these scholarships was remarkable. Gary truly felt that education was the only way we could give back to those coming along behind us in the industry. Sadly, Gary passed away in 2011.

Jack Graff had spent his 40 plus years in the coloring of plastics educating and training many of the color experts in this industry. Through his diligent efforts, in 1989 the Terra Community College added a course in color matching science to its curriculum. Jack also taught a few courses there each year. We remember Jack as an educator and teacher, so it is appropriate that one of our scholarships honor him.

Bob Charvat has been an SPE CAD member for over 50 years and a board member for many of those 50 years. In his past lives at various companies he was a significant contributor to the education of colorists in our industry. Upon his retirement he began an association with Terra Technical College in Fremont, Ohio. Bob was instrumental in the creation of this program and remained a steadfast champion of the program with both SPE CAD and Terra Technical College administration until his passing in 2014. The last 18 years of his life, Bob was active in the creation of an ongoing curriculum of the Coloring of Plastics program at Terra Tech. Sadly, Bob passed away in early 2014. The naming of one of the scholarships for Bob Charvat is CAD’s way of honoring his memory and continuing his efforts to educate those in the plastics color realm.

Steve Goldstein, or Dr. Steve, as he was affectionately known by those around him, was a valued member of the SPE Color and Appearance Division for 27 years and on the Board of Directors for over 16 years and he was widely recognized as a plastics industry expert. During his tenure on the BOD he chaired the Education Committee as well as the Technical Resource committee and served on the Awards Committee. His impact and influence have helped shape the Color and Appearance Division’s training and scholarship programs during this time. His legacy will thrive through this scholarship and continue to be an influence on the coloring of plastics industry.

George Rangos, Jr., was involved within the SPE and the plastics industry since 1979. George joined the Color and Appearance Division Board of Directors in 1992 and served on several committees and as Chair of the Board of Directors, Councilor, and Chair of the Endowment Committee. George’s background in the pigments industry was extensive, and he shared that knowledge with anyone who needed his skills. George enjoyed trying to mentor new members & getting them involved in the industry via the SPE CAD and supported that cause through his efforts on the Scholarship Committee.

Each year scholarships of up to $4,000 each are awarded in memorial to these men of service Additional full or partial scholarships may be awarded based on available funding and on the number of qualified applicants.

Mail, e-mail or fax any necessary paperwork to:

Ann Smeltzer – Endowment Chair/SPE CAD
707 Lindenwood Drive
Coraopolis, PA 15108

412-298-4373

ann.smeltzer@heubach.com

Click Here to Contact the Endowment Committee

CAD/SPE Endowment Program

Revision 4 March, 2019

The Endowment Scholarship Program offered by the Color & Appearance Division of the Society of Plastics Engineers awards up to five scholarships each year to students who have demonstrated or expressed an interest in the coloring of plastics industry. The students must be majoring in or taking courses that would be beneficial to a career in this industry. This would include, but is not limited to, plastics engineering, polymer science, coloring of plastics, chemistry, physics, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, industrial design and industrial engineering. All applicants must be in good standing with their colleges. Financial need is considered for most scholarships.

Undergraduate and graduate scholarships range up to $4,000 annually. Scholarships are awarded for one year only, but applicants may apply for a re-award for each year they are enrolled in school.

Scholarship Eligibility

1. Applicants for these scholarships must be full-time undergraduate students in either a four-year college or a two-year technical program or enrolled in a graduate program located in the United States.
2. All applicants must be graduates of public or private high schools.

Scholarship Criteria

1. Applicants must have a demonstrated or expressed interest in the coloring of plastics industry.
2. Applicants must be majoring in or taking courses that would be beneficial to a career in the coloring of plastics industry.
3. An applicant must be in good academic standing with his or her school.
4. Preference is given to student members of SPE and also to students who have a parent(s) as a member of the Color & Appearance Division of the SPE.
5. Financial need of an applicant will be considered for most scholarships.

Application Procedure

To be considered for a scholarship from the Color & Appearance Division Endowment Scholarship Program, applicants must complete an application and return it to the address specified on the application by June 17, 2024. All applications submitted must include:

1. A completed application form.
2. Three recommendation letters: two from a teacher or school official and one from an employer or non-relative.
3. A high school and/or college transcript for the last two years.
4. An essay by the student (500 words or less) telling why the applicant is applying for the scholarship, the applicant’s qualifications, and the applicant’s educational and career goals in the coloring of plastics industry.
   5. A brief statement as to how you became aware of this scholarship program.

All scholarships will be paid directly to the recipients’ schools. The Color & Appearance Division Endowment Scholarship Program will not award scholarships to applicants who are not qualified and reserves the right to not award scholarships in any year in which sufficient funding is lacking.

Grant Process

Scholarships from CAD/SPE are available every year, funds permitting, for students majoring in or taking courses that would be beneficial to a career in coloring plastics. The following process will be used:

1. Application form needs to be filled out by applicant in its entirety. The application needs to completed by June 17th, 2024, to be eligible for Fall 2024 – Spring 2025 school year.
2. Information regarding applications will be sent to Endowment Committee members. The Endowment Committee will use the Criteria for Acceptability document to assign points for the review.
3. The Endowment Committee will make recommendations for scholarships no later than early July 2024.
4. Notification to candidates will occur as soon as approved, but not later than mid-July 2024. Checks will be mailed by July 31, 2024.