Auburn TAPPI student, advisor recognized at organization's national summit

This year’s Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry–Paper Industry Management Association (TAPPI–PIMA) Student Summit, held Jan. 17–19 in Birmingham, had a distinct Auburn Engineering flavor.

Michael Reuss, a senior in chemical engineering, and Naomi Gehling, TAPPI student advisor and University Planning Chair, served as student and university planning chairs, respectively, for a second consecutive year — helping welcome an event record of more than 200 engineering and technical students from 15 universities for three days of keynotes, sustainability discussions, professional development sessions and on-site interviews with hiring companies. The pair also earned the Summit’s highest honors.

Reuss, who received the PIMA Student Leadership Award, TAPPI’s top national recognition for student leaders, said five years of involvement with TAPPI has sharpened skills that transcend technical coursework.

“TAPPI has allowed me to greatly improve some of my soft skills such as teamwork, communication and networking by volunteering for outreach events on campus and this national Student Summit,” he said. “These opportunities allowed me to meet many industry leaders and work well with other students.”

Leadership, he added, requires more than holding a title.

“From my experiences in college, to serve as a leader within extracurricular groups like the TAPPI student chapter requires wielding determination and passion, which serve to guide your actions and make the programs/clubs/hobbies more impactful for you and others,” Reuss said. “There's another trait that I've known to be very important for leaders to possess and that's ‘By-In.’ Leaders, more than others, need to believe and commit to what they do as that cultivates the best environment for others to contribute to the same effect, which allows for structured growth.”

Reuss and Gehling were also named “Heroes of the Student Summit,” an internal recognition from organizers honoring their leadership in planning and executing the event for a second consecutive year.

Gehling helped coordinate programming, logistics and industry outreach and introduced an interactive, hands-on professional development workshop that shifted one session block from a traditional panel format to an experiential learning model. The workshop provided practical, skills-driven content aligned with the Summit’s theme, and student feedback was overwhelmingly positive.

Supporting students is the most fulfilling part of my work,” said Gehling, who noted that Auburn Engineering was represented at the Summit by 26 students across a variety of disciplines. “Helping them discover their confidence, find their place, and connect with industry mentors is a privilege. Seeing Auburn students thrive at a national level, and witnessing true Auburn spirit from our industry partners, fuels my passion to keep creating opportunities for future engineers.”

Under the umbrella of the Alabama Center for Paper and Bioresource Engineering and the Auburn Pulp and Paper Foundation, TAPPI connects students and professionals in paper, packaging, tissue and converting. The Auburn student chapter offers hands-on opportunities to explore the industry, build practical skills and get involved on campus. Members attend plant tours, learn from industry speakers, participate in technical projects and STEM outreach and travel to conferences to meet recruiters and learn about internships.