Shaping the Future: Our Longstanding Partnership with Michigan Universities

A Longstanding Partnership with Higher Education

At Vantage Plastics, we believe that innovation thrives through collaboration. That’s why we’re proud to continue our longstanding support of senior design projects at Central Michigan University’s School of Engineering and Technology. This year’s student team was challenged to create a device that improves the efficiency of setting up a thermoforming machine and monitors a critical variable during production.

At the conclusion of the project, students presented their work to university faculty and industry sponsors. These presentations require students to defend their design decisions and showcase practical, real-world problem-solving—benefiting not only the students and the university, but also the sponsoring companies that gain fresh perspectives and creative solutions.

A Legacy of Collaboration

Since our founding, Vantage Plastics has recognized the importance of staying connected to emerging technologies, new business strategies, and workforce development. Colleges and universities are vital incubators of these innovations. From the very beginning, we established a relationship with Central Michigan University—and have since expanded our partnerships to include Saginaw Valley State University, Northwood University, Delta College, Mid Michigan College, Michigan Tech, Michigan State University, Ferris State University, and the University of Michigan.

Over the past 29 years, we’ve actively engaged with academic institutions almost every year, with the exception of a brief pause during the COVID-19 pandemic. These collaborations have included:

• Senior Design Projects with engineering and technology students
• Marketing research conducted by senior-level business classes
• Specialized training programs provided by community colleges
• Research studies led by tenured professors in business management
• Numerous internship opportunities leading to full-time careers

Investing in the Future

These partnerships have brought meaningful innovations to our company and played a vital role in shaping future leaders. Many of our current team members began their careers as interns, and we’re proud to have provided a launchpad for so many talented individuals.

Our engagement with higher education aligns closely with the mission of the Vantage Plastics Family of Companies:
To Form Solutions, Form Better Lives, and Form Sustainable Futures.