November 14, 2025
For Zach Ison, a junior from Hillsboro, Ohio, choosing Shawnee State University’s Plastics Engineering Technology program felt like the perfect fit. A hands-on learner with a passion for understanding how things work, how to repair them, and how to create solutions that make everyday life easier, Zach found exactly what he was looking for at SSU.
“I have always loved learning about how things work,” Ison said. “I wanted a degree that let me build, fix, and understand real processes and Plastics Engineering at SSU was really the only option that checked every box.”
Zach is currently pursuing two degrees: a Bachelor’s in Plastics Engineering Technology and an Associate’s in Computer Aided Design (CAD). He says that while his overall experience at SSU has been great, the engineering program has been the highlight of his college career.
“The teachers make sure we actually understand what we’re being taught,” he said. “The faculty care about every student like one of their own children. Whether you’re struggling in a class or dealing with something personally, the professors and lab techs are always there to help. It feels more like a family than a class.”
The Plastics Engineering Technology program at SSU stands out for its strong emphasis on hands-on learning. Students work directly with industry equipment, learning the processes that drive one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing industries.
“At SSU, you don’t just hear about how processes work; you actually get to run them yourself,” Ison said. “Seeing how everything works in person is a huge bonus for our education.”
Another benefit is the small class sizes within the Engineering Technology Department.
“Across campus, classes might range from 10 to 40 students, but Plastics Engineering classes are usually only 10 to 15 people,” he said. “You get way more one-on-one interaction with professors, and labs are more hands-on because everyone gets the chance to run equipment and test processes.”
Students in the program are in the lab from day one. “You might have an hour-long lecture explaining a theory, and then you go straight into the lab to apply what you learned,” he explained. “It really helps solidify the concepts.”
Ison plans to graduate in spring 2027. After graduation, he hopes to work at Honda in Marysville, Ohio, as a processing engineer, helping develop processes for new vehicle designs.
One of the program's biggest advantages is its strong career placement record.
“We tell new students all the time that graduates with a Plastics Engineering degree have a 99 percent job placement after graduation and an 80 percent internship placement while still taking classes,” Ison said.
For students considering engineering, Zach strongly suggests experiencing SSU’s facilities firsthand. “I advise anyone interested in engineering to come take a tour. Compared to other programs, Shawnee State gives students the chance to work hands-on with machines from many different processes. Other universities often focus more on theory, but here, you get both.”
He also encourages prospective students to attend the program’s annual event.
“Every year, we host an Engineering Technology Day called ‘Plastics Day’,” Ison said. “This year it’s on December 5. It’s a public event that showcases what we do and all the capabilities students have in our program.”
Students interested in Plastics Engineering or Engineering Technology at Shawnee State can learn more by visiting the program’s facilities or by attending Plastics Day. Learn more at shawnee.edu/plastics.