UMass Lowell 2025 PPA scholarship awardees.

Recipient of the Mike Friend Scholarship.
Hi, my name is Achilles Steinbok, and I am currently attending UMass Lowell as an undergraduate
in Plastics Engineering. I’m still finding my way in the world of Plastics, but it has been exciting
to be a part of it so far. I hope to explore as much as I can about the field and learn all there is to
know. I am on a bit of an adventure to find what direction I want to take my degree, but my hope
is to make a positive impact on the world regardless of where I end up.

Recipient of the Rick Hoeske Scholarship.
I’ve always loved solving problems, building things, and being part of a team—traits that led me
to engineering at a young age. At UMass Lowell, I’m pursuing my B.S. and M.S. in Plastics
Engineering while gaining hands-on experience in extrusion, injection molding, and materials
analysis. I’ve led research projects, taught industry seminars, and supported manufacturing
teams at Raytheon and Corning. I also spent two years in the fast-paced restaurant industry,
which taught me discipline, adaptability, and grit. I’m passionate about learning, leading, and
making a lasting impact through engineering.
Sincerely,
Jack Sullivan