Department of Wood Science and Forest Products awards $40,000 scholarships
In association with Wood Week 2006 at Virginia Tech, the Department of Wood Science and Forest Products awarded over $40,000 in scholarships to students in the department at their scholarship awards reception held at the Inn at Virginia Tech on Oct. 4, 2006.
“Conceived in 2005, Wood Week at Virginia Tech is a way for us to consolidate a range of activities and events into one period and bring focus to our faculty, staff, students, donors, industry partners, and local elementary schools,” said Paul Winistorfer, professor and department head and overall organizer. “The scholarship awards reception is one of many activities during the week.”
Over 125 donors, guests, friends, faculty, staff, students, and advisory board members attended the scholarship reception. Twenty-three scholarships were awarded to sixteen individual students. Scholarships ranged from $500 to $5,000 with support coming from individual donors, friends, and industry partners.
Some of the support comes from the industry partners associated with the three research and education centers organized in the department. The Center for Unit Load Design advisory board is a group of industry partners focused on global distribution packaging and logistics. The Center for Forest Products Marketing and Management advisory board is focused on the business management and marketing aspects of the sector. The Wood-Based Composites Center advisory board is composed of Virginia Tech and partner universities the University of Maine, Oregon State University, the University of British Columbia, and affiliate universities Mississippi State University and the University of Minnesota, and leading industry partners and is focused on wood composites fundamental research and development. Advisory board members of these centers were on campus for board meetings and participated in the awarding of scholarships to students.
Winistorfer added, “We have one of the strongest and largest student scholarship programs in our discipline in North America and are thankful for the generous support of our donors and the very high quality of students in our program.” The Department of Wood Science and Forest Products in the College of Natural Resources is one of the leading programs in North America engaged in wood and renewable materials utilization. Faculty members focus on the science and business of wood and renewable materials utilization through learning, discovery, and engagement. The department is home to the Center for Forest Products Marketing and Management, the Center for Unit Load Design, the Wood-Based Composites Center, the Sustainable Engineered Materials Institute and the award winning Wood Magic Show for 4th and 5th grade children and their teachers. Through cooperation with the department of marketing in the Pamplin College of Business, the department co-directs the Alfred P. Sloan Forest Industries Center. Students learn from the leading wood and renewable materials scientists in the world, who bring the latest science and application of principles to the classroom.
