The International Corrugated Packaging Foundation (ICPF) and The Packaging School (TPS) are pleased to announce the successful completion of ICPF’s first funded cohort in the Certificate of Mastery in Packaging Management (CMPM) program—an important milestone in expanding awareness of careers in the corrugated packaging industry.
In October 2025, nine students were selected to receive ICPF’s $7,000 scholarship and completed the 12-week, expert-led CMPM program. The inaugural cohort included students from the University of Northern Iowa, Carlow University, Clemson University, Rutgers University, and Wake Forest University.
As a culminating experience, students will present and pitch their Packaging Development Plans to a review panel made up of ICPF staff, The Packaging School faculty, and corrugated industry representatives. These panel sessions provide students with direct exposure to industry professionals while reinforcing real-world understanding and expectations for packaging development, innovation, communication, and problem-solving.
Through completion of the program, students gained industry-focused knowledge, hands-on experience, and a project-based portfolio designed to be immediately applicable to packaging and manufacturing career opportunities, with a dedicated emphasis on corrugated packaging.
“This first cohort demonstrates the power of strategic partnerships to connect students with meaningful career pathways,” said Caitlin Salaverria, President of ICPF. “By embedding corrugated content and direct industry engagement into an established credential, we are strengthening talent pipelines and building long-term awareness of our industry.”
Building on the success of the inaugural cohort, ICPF and The Packaging School will launch a new CMPM cohort set to begin in April. Applications for the new cohort are currently open for submission. To learn more and receive updates on the upcoming cohort, visit www.packagingschool.com/icpf.
Scholarship applicants must be current students (aged 18-25) who are studying business, supply chain, graphic communications, design, engineering, environmental science, chemistry, or a STEAM-related field at a college, university, trade/technical school, or community college. Interns at corrugated and other packaging companies are also eligible—email ICPF for details ([email protected]).