Allied Organizations
Upon the outbreak of the pandemic last March, ICPF began working with colleges and universities to assist them in utilizing ICPF’s online corrugated packaging curricula as campuses around the country adjusted to set up distance learning capability. ICPF additionally worked with Arden and Esko to develop the capability for students to access design software remotely. (Licensing previously required students to utilize Impact and Artios software directly from the computers located in the design labs on each campus.) In 2021, ICPF has continued providing individual distance learning assistance as well as several other programs it launched to further enable its outreach during covid-19 conditions.
ICPF’s student advisory board members have provided valued input on the establishment of ICPF’s “virtual” student/executive dialogue dinners and assisted with plans and implementation for converting ICPF’s 2021 Teleconference on the Business of Corrugated Packaging & Displays and the Careers to a virtual format.
ICPF additionally continues to recruit and work with newly designated ICPF student representatives on 18 campuses who promote corrugated packaging careers and student participation in ICPF’s initiatives.
ICPF new industry mentoring program for students who are seeking internships or full-time positions during the reduction in the industry’s openings due to COVID-19 is proving successful as well. The first enrollee, a Clemson packaging August’ 20 graduate, just accepted a sales trainee position with an ICPF corporate partner just this past month.
ICPF’s new student program manager intern also provides assistance with outreach to students. Most recently she worked to update or identify 2020 - 2021 scholarships. This work assisted ICPF in prompting several scholarship programs to provide additional funding to reopen or extend applications deadlines to potentially assist packaging and related students whose families may have been financially impacted by COVID-19 conditions.
While all of us are looking forward to more direct personal interaction in the near future, ICPF has used the new Zoom era to save travel time for ICPF corporate partners who wish to assist in providing education on corrugated packaging in classes and packaging clubs on campuses across the country. Just in the past two weeks alone, ICPF has made exclusive keynote presentations to over 120 students on the virtual campuses Michigan State, University of Florida and RIT. If your firm is an ICPF Corporate Partner and interested in potentially designating a manager or executive to serve as a future ICPF “packaging industry” speaker, contact
rflaherty@icpfbox.org
to learn more.