ISTA Educational Foundation 2026 Award Recipients

ISTA and the ISTA Educational Foundation (ISTAEF) are proud to recognize the 2026 Honor Award recipients for excellence in transport packaging: The ISTAEF announced the recipients of four prestigious awards recognizing outstanding individual achievement, leadership, and long‑term contribution to the transport packaging industry. The awards were presented at the 2026 ISTA Forum USA, including the TempPack and TransPack events, held in Phoenix, Arizona, in April.

“Through a variety of programs, ISTA and the ISTA Educational Foundation are pleased to honor both individual and organizational achievement — those in the packaging industry inspiring and educating others to improve our world through transport packaging,” said A. J. Gruber, ISTAEF President.

Learn more about each award recipient below.
 
OUTSTANDING STUDENT AWARD
Recognizes students who are active in supporting and engaging in their school program through both academic and extracurricular activities.

Hannah Dickson, Student, Clemson University
Hannah Dickson is a Senior Honors Packaging Science student at Clemson University from Aiken, SC. As President of the Packaging Science Club, she leads initiatives that strengthen student involvement and expand connections with industry partners. She has completed a co-op with Arthrex, gaining exposure to real-world applications in medical-device packaging, and will further broaden her experience this summer as a packaging intern with Newell Brands. Hannah was also a student presenter at the 2025 ISTA TransPack Forum. Graduating in December 2026, she is dedicated to advancing innovative, user-centered, and sustainable packaging solutions while continuing to grow as a leader in the industry.
EMERGING LEADER AWARD
Recognizes professionals early in their packaging career making great contributions to their company and the packaging industry.

Grant Badstubner, Field Data Analyst, TransPak
Grant Badstubner is a Field Data Analyst at TransPak with an MS in Packaging and eight years of experience in field data collection and transport measurement. He specializes in packaging dynamics, leading the deployment of instrumentation to capture real-world shock, vibration, and environmental conditions across global supply chains. He is a member of the ISTA Standards Council and applies field data to support lab validation, damage investigation, and optimization of packaging and test requirements.
R. DAVID LEBUTT AWARD
This award was created to honor the late Dave LeButt and individuals like himself dedicated to the field of packaging. Recipients are recognized for their outstanding contributions to educating those involved in packaging on minimizing transit damage and optimizing resources through effective package design.

Matt Daum, Ph.D., Associate Provost and Dean, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Michigan State University
Matt Daum, Ph.D., is a nationally recognized leader in packaging, business, and academic innovation whose career spans Fortune 50 global executive leadership and Big Ten university academic administration. He currently serves as Associate Provost and Dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Michigan State University. Previously he led the MSU School of Packaging and advanced major initiatives in facility renovation, faculty investment, and curriculum enhancements.
 
Before returning to MSU, Dr. Daum spent 26 years with HP Inc., rising through packaging, engineering, supply chain, data analytics, and executive leadership roles. His work shaped the company’s global packaging strategy, product development, and anti counterfeit systems for HP’s LaserJet and InkJet supplies businesses, and was widely regarded for building high performing teams and driving innovation.
 
Dr. Daum served as Chair of the ISTA Global Board of Directors from 2011 to 2015, a transformative period that included a capital campaign to expand industry research, strengthened financials and the implementation of a major organizational transition. In addition to his industry and administrative leadership, Dr. Daum spent more than 15 years as an adjunct associate professor at Clemson University, advising graduate students with their research projects.
 
Matt earned his Ph.D. from Michigan State University, where his research focused on shock response spectrum and fatigue damage in product fragility testing.
BERNARD MCGARVEY AWARD
The Bernard McGarvey Award was created to honor the late Bernard McGarvey and individuals like himself dedicated to the field of packaging temperature-sensitive pharma and life-science products. Recipients are recognized for exceptional efforts in educating those involved in the supply chain for temperature-sensitive pharma and life-science products, on minimizing transit damage and optimizing resources through effective package design.

Rafik H. Bishara, Ph.D., retired
Rafik H. Bishara, Ph.D. is a globally recognized expert in pharmaceutical cold chain management and temperature-controlled supply chains. He spent 35 years with Eli Lilly and Company, retiring as Director of Quality Knowledge Management and Technical Support, where he oversaw global distribution excellence, stability, and product protection.
 
Dr. Bishara is the former Chair of the Pharmaceutical Cold Chain Interest Group within the Parenteral Drug Association and has served as a Temporary Advisor to the World Health Organization. He has contributed extensively to global regulatory guidance, including service on the United States Pharmacopeia Expert Panel for storage and transportation of investigational drug products.
 
He is the founder of RHB Technical Advising, LLC, and has authored numerous articles and technical papers on cold chain and supply chain integrity. Dr. Bishara holds advanced degrees from Butler University and Purdue University and continues to advise industry organizations on secure, compliant distribution of temperature sensitive pharmaceuticals and life sciences products.


 
Click here to learn more and submit a nomination.