2026 Education Awards Celebration

🎓 The SPE Cleveland Section proudly recognized the recipients of its 2026 Education Awards during a special awards event held on June 10, 2026, at Case Western Reserve University.

The evening brought together students, families, educators, industry professionals, and SPE Cleveland board members to celebrate outstanding achievement and encourage the next generation of polymer and plastics professionals. In addition to the awards presentation, attendees had the opportunity to hear from industry guest speaker Vahab Solouki of Lubrizol, who shared insights on career development, professional growth, and opportunities within the polymer and plastics industry.

The event also featured presentations from several Northeast Ohio Science and Engineering Fair (NEOSEF) award winners, who showcased their research and innovation. Following the ceremony, guests participated in a tour of Case Western Reserve University’s polymer laboratories, providing students with a firsthand look at advanced research and educational opportunities in polymer science and engineering.

🏆 2026 SPE Cleveland Scholarship Recipients

• Mandy Zheng – Case Western Reserve University
• Negar Shaghaghi – Case Western Reserve University

🌟 2026 NEOSEF Award Recipients

• 🥇 1st Place Winner – Kayleanah McKay – St. Mary Byzantine Elementary School
• 🥈 2nd Place Winner – Laura Pinto – St. Dominic Elementary School
• 🥉 3rd Place Winner – Ayat Jaffar – Hawken Upper School

🎉 SPE Cleveland congratulates all of the 2026 award recipients on their accomplishments and wishes them continued success in their academic and professional pursuits. We are proud to support students whose achievements, leadership, and passion for science, engineering, and polymers will help shape the future of our industry.