Technology, engineering resources bring business ideas to life for USI student

Ryan Loehrlein had an idea, and the drive to make that idea come to life. All he needed were the tools and mentoring to make it a reality.

While a student at F. J. Reitz High School in Evansville, Indiana, he conceptualized the idea for Guardian Angel, a product that allows law enforcement agencies to upload building schematics to drones in order to automate surveillance.

At the University of Southern Indiana, Loehrlein has found the resources he needs to
succeed-he's found direct access to engaged faculty, as well as resources such as tooling machines, commercial 3D printers and other high tech equipment inside the University's Applied Engineering Center, a state of the art, 16,226-square foot engineering and manufacturing facility. He was able to refine and further his ideas and, in February, led a team that pitched Guardian Angel at Startup Weekend Evansville, Indiana's largest entrepreneurial competition hosted in USI's Business and Engineering Center, where Guardian Angel was named the winning business.

Loehrlein describes his connection with faculty and the access he has to resources, as the greatest benefit to attending USI. "Some of the things we have access to are definitely things that students at larger campuses don't have the privilege to use-especially as a freshmen."

He first knew the USI campus was the right one for his future during high school, as a competitor in the Tri-State Science and Engineering Fair. He decided to attend the University to pursue a degree in engineering and a minor in entrepreneurship. When he arrived on campus, he immediately starting working toward making his idea a reality. "I fell in love with the campus," he said. "How everybody was so welcoming and helped with everything. I didn't get that experience from larger campuses. That's what drew me in to this campus. I've developed a strong connection with some of the professors and students who I can now reach out to for advice or any help I need in the field.

"I was first introduced to Ryan in an introductory course for our engineering students," said Dr. Arthur Chlebowski, assistant professor of engineering. "I got to see him firsthand-his work ethic and his approach to school. What we've seen is that he always tries to perform at his best-in terms of what he's trying to accomplish-and his schoolwork is no different. Giving our students the ability to use high-tech equipment, as well as the ability to utilize our Applied Engineering Center, where they can design their own work, gives them an advantage that I didn't have readily available to me when I was in school."

As one of the first students in USI's new Mechanical Engineering Program, Loehrlein is pairing his creativity and work ethic with the expert instruction he will receive in this exciting new degree program. This new named engineering degree program, according to Chlebowski, shows potential employers the exact specialization and coursework attained by a student. "You actually have the certificate that states, "mechanical engineer," he said. From an employer standpoint, that's important.

When he graduates in 2018, Loehrlein plans to pursue a master's degree in business administration in USI's Romain College of Business.

"I'd love working with more students like Ryan, that have that passion for an idea or have that innovative outlook," said Chlebowski. "We have the tools here for students to be able to do that, and hopefully as Ryan and other students start to expand their horizons, they'll realize what's available here at USI to make that happen." He says the added degree will help him develop the business acumen he needs to continue developing his business plan for Guardian Angel, as well as working with the University to expand programs and opportunities for local high school and middle school students to interact with the Engineering Department.

By connecting passion and creativity with world-class resources and engaged faculty, Ryan Loehrlein has found more than a lecture at USI-he's bringing innovative ideas to the world and gaining Knowledge for Life.