Staton earns award for leadership
Senior majors in packaging, minors in sustainable biomaterials
As the daughter of two Hokies, Libbie Staton is a legacy Hokie who loves Virginia Tech and the natural settings of the New River Valley.
Libbie Staton, a senior from Lynchburg, will graduate in May with a degree in packaging systems and design and a minor in sustainable biomaterials. She was named as the recipient of the Department of Sustainable Biomaterials’ Dave Smith Leadership Award for Spring 2024. During her time here at Virginia Tech she has also received the G. Scott Francis Scholarship and E.G. Stern and Marianne Stern and J. Stern Fromberg Memorial Scholarship.
Getting to know Libbie Staton
My junior and senior year of high school I was in a dual enrollment program with Central Virginia Community College. I was taking college courses for those two years which allowed me to graduate with an advanced high school diploma as well as an associate’s degree. Some of my favorite things to do are to hike, cook, and go to the beach.
Why Virginia Tech? Why Sustainable Biomaterials?
Both of my parents went to Virginia Tech so I grew up always wanting to be a Hokie. I chose my major because of how close-knit and hands-on it was. My first semester, as a freshman, I was already starting to physically design and develop my own packages which was very encouraging and engaging. I was intrigued by the sustainability aspect of the packaging major, which is what led me to further my understanding of this aspect by minoring in Sustainable Biomaterials. It’s my goal to create more sustainable packaging solutions in order to make a positive impact on the environment.
What do you attribute the successful winning of multiple scholarships over your time in the SBIO department?
My major encourages internship and co-op opportunities, and I did one co-op and one summer internship while being a student. These experiences helped me grow in so many ways, but one in particular was obtaining the G. Scott Francis Scholarship. This award is geared toward the paper, fiber, recycling, and packaging area. I believe my summer internship at a corrugated packaging company played a big role in me getting this award. The E.G. Stern and Marianne Stern and J. Stern Fromberg Memorial Scholarship is awarded to students showing academic performance and professional promise, so I think the combination of my coursework along with my willingness to obtain internships and co-op experiences helped me obtain this award. The fact that SBIO and the packaging major is flexible enough to allow students to have real-world experiences prior to graduating, such as internships, is something I really love about it because I felt like that was one of the most important parts of my college experience.
What knowledge and skills have you found to be the most useful? What advice would you give to future students?
The most useful skills I gained during my classes in SBIO is how to work effectively in groups with my classmates. The nature of my program is very project-oriented, so I expanded my communication skills and ability to work with my peers in a professional manner which is a valuable tool that will help me succeed in the workplace. SBIO provides an endless number of unique experiences like field trips, industry tours/speakers, and professional opportunities. I would tell a future student to take advantage and enjoy all of these opportunities because they are truly unique to SBIO, and it will benefit your education as well as provide you some really cool experiences.