The Akron SPE "Wonders of Plastics” Essay Contest is open to middle and high school students. It must be sponsored by one of the student’s teachers. The focus of the essay contest is to provide students an opportunity to explore how plastics affect everyday life and to investigate emerging technologies.

2026 Essay Contest - Due spring 2026

The winners for 2025 are:

 First Place:  Dyllan Noel Carpenter  “Mankind’s Plentiful Polymers”

Second Place:  Eddie Jackson “Plastic: A Deep Water for the Future”

Teacher: Randy Nord, Boardman High School