For more than a decade, students at Valley Central High School in Montgomery, New York, have been learning a surprising lesson: corrugated is far more than the box their online orders arrive in.
Under the guidance of technology teacher Nick Longo and corrugated industry veteran Richard Goldberg, the students have engineered sleds, boats, bridges, chairs, and even candy dispensers from the versatile material. This year’s Introduction to Engineering class continued that tradition, and once again proved that a flat sheet of corrugated can unlock big ideas.
Goldberg, formerly of President Container Group (PCG) and now President of Engico North America, has been a fixture in Longo’s classroom since the program began. “These projects open doors,” he said. “Most of these students have never heard of corrugated manufacturing, but they walk away knowing it’s an industry filled with opportunity.”
A Hands-On Lesson In Creativity
Each semester, Longo challenges his students to move from concept to creation. They sketch ideas, test designs, and refine their builds, learning along the way that success comes from iteration, teamwork, and persistence. Corrugated, they quickly discover, is more than packaging: it bends, folds, and holds in sometimes unexpected ways.
“For me, it’s all about giving students a chance to imagine and build,” said Longo. “They learn engineering vocabulary, CAD skills, and the basics of design, but the real value comes from discovering how fun and rewarding it can be to work together on something completely new.”
Past projects have included sleds that raced down local hills, bridges that supported hundreds of pounds, and safes with working combination locks. While this year’s session was more compact, the energy in the classroom—and pool area—was no different. Students dove into their projects, working side by side to transform stacks of corrugated sheets into creative, functional builds.
The Student Perspective
The consensus among students was clear: the projects were fun, challenging, and unlike anything they had done before. Many admitted they had never thought about where corrugated boxes came from or realized that an entire industry was behind them. Some discovered a newfound interest in engineering or design, while others said the experience changed the way they thought about manufacturing itself.
“It was eye-opening,” one student shared. “I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did. It was creative, it was teamwork, and it was fun.”
Connecting Classroom And Industry
Goldberg brings real-world industry experience to the classroom, fostering learning and engagement through answering questions, offering advice, and sharing industry knowledge, bringing authenticity to the projects. Students also learn about career paths in corrugated, from machine operations to structural design, customer service, and beyond.
“What’s most rewarding is seeing students light up when they realize they’ve created something that actually works,” Goldberg said. “That excitement is exactly what our industry needs.”
The partnership between Valley Central and Goldberg has endured because it meets a need on both sides. For students, it’s a chance to learn problem-solving skills and gain exposure to an industry they may never have encountered otherwise. For the corrugated industry, it’s a way to spark interest in the next generation of employees at a time when workforce challenges are top of mind.
As Goldberg often reminds both students and industry colleagues, “If you want to attract young people into our industry, you have to get to them in the high schools. They need to see it, touch it, and experience it for themselves.”
More Than Packaging
This year’s projects have once again proved corrugated as a versatile medium for learning, discovery, and creativity. Students walked away with new skills, new con fidence, and a new appreciation for corrugated.
https://boardconvertingnews.com/high-school-students-discover-corrugateds-creative-potential/
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