Packaging scholarship eases students' loads

Sophia Fitzgerald and Marta Ghigo followed different paths to Virginia Tech.   

But Fitzgerald, from Williamsburg, and Ghigo, originally from Rome, Italy, are connected by a shared honor — the Pallet Alliance Tyson Steffens Memorial Scholarship.

Steffens was one of Pallet Alliance’s first employees and rose through the company to become an owner. After Steffens’ death in 2022, his co-workers, family, and friends sought ways to honor his memory. Steffens believed strongly in supporting education, stressing the importance of integrity and character in leadership and encouraging technical excellence. Pallet Alliance chose to establish the Pallet Alliance Tyson Steffens Memorial Scholarship to ensure that his values would live on, honoring his rigorous honesty, hard work, and creativity.

“Pallet Alliance believes strongly in the importance of supporting education generally and in cultivating the next generation of packaging engineers,” said Mike Jones, the company's CEO and president. “There will always be opportunities to improve the performance and reduce the environmental impact of packaging, and it’s vital that students be encouraged to explore and pursue the field. And on a more personal note, it is truly rewarding to be able to play a part in helping students along their educational journeys.”

Sophia, a senior in packaging systems and design, said the scholarship has opened doors to connect with industry professionals while supporting her on her chosen career path. Those connections provided invaluable insights into the world of pallet and distribution, a critical aspect of packaging, even though her primary interest is in consumer-packaged goods. 

“It's that much more meaningful that the Pallet Alliance chose to donate money to Virginia Tech and helps students who want to join this field,” Fitzgerald said. “It’s incredible having such a powerful support system from the industry. I’m extremely grateful for Pallet Alliance’s support and what this scholarship means.”

Ghigo, a junior also in the packaging systems and design program, was drawn to the blend of sustainability, design, and technical challenges that packaging offers. The scholarship has allowed Ghigo to fully immerse herself in her studies and extracurricular activities without worry.   

Beyond financial relief, the scholarship reinforced Marta's confidence in her chosen field, knowing that she had the backing of industry leaders.   

“Receiving support from the packaging industry, especially through a scholarship like this, boosts a student's confidence and motivation,” Ghigo said. “It reinforces that we've chosen the right field and that there's industry support behind us. I’m extremely grateful for their support.” 

While at Pack Expo International 2024 in Chicago in November, both Fitzgerald and Ghigo met with Pallet Alliance representatives.

“It was so meaningful getting to meet the leadership team at the Pallet Alliance,” Fitzgerald said. “Having the opportunity to hear about their careers and how they got to where they are today was so inspiring as well as learning more about their company’s mission and how they are having such a positive impact on the packaging and distribution industry.”

The pair met Aubrey Galbraith ’18, a packaging graduate, and heard about his experiences after graduation.

“We also met Erin Clarke who was incredible and so supportive of our goals and shared tons of awesome experiences with us,” Fitzgerald said. “It was amazing getting to interact with Mike Jones, the CEO of Pallet Alliance, as he gave us so much inspiring advice and insight into the industry. Overall, it was so incredible getting to learn from such amazing leaders in the packaging industry, and I am so grateful for their support.”