Launching Future Careers
USI and Amcor Pilot Project Boosts Industry Experience
By Addison E. Paul
EARLIER THIS YEAR, the University of Southern Indiana launched a collaboration that gave students practical career experience and brought fresh perspectives to a regional business powerhouse. Partnering with Amcor, a global leader in developing and producing responsible packaging solutions, USI debuted a pilot program that merged new ideas with industry expertise.
"At Amcor, we are continuously seeking fresh thinking to develop the best packaging innovations for our customers and consumers," said Bill Norman, Amcor Rigid Packaging Solutions North America President. "This partnership allows us to do that while also supporting the workforce of tomorrow in the greater Evansville area."
In this semester-long project, a team of multidisciplinary USI students and faculty worked with Amcor experts to research, develop and test concepts for an innovative packaging design. Six students representing all four USI colleges and the School of Graduate Studies gained invaluable experience with interdisciplinary collaboration in an industry environment.
"Collaborating with students from different disciplines pushes me to think beyond my major, and working on this project has strengthened my understanding of how design functions in a real-world manufacturing environment. I'm more prepared to enter the workforce with industry experience already on my resume."
- Ethan Reherman '27, Student Team Designer
With over 400 locations across more than 40 countries, Amcor has been building on its international presence in Evansville since the company completed its combination with Berry Global Group in 2025.
Students made regular trips to Amcor throughout the project, gaining a deeper understanding of how the company functions in a corporate setting. But this pilot isn't just about letting students peek behind the industrial curtain; it's an immersive project encouraging them to take ownership in the creative strategy and development of a product with the potential for international distribution.
"Working alongside peers and Amcor professionals provides unique firsthand experience. It helps me view challenges from different perspectives and exposes me to new ways of solving problems."
- Mason Eickhoff '26, Student Team Engineer
Working alongside USI's Center for Applied Research (CAR) and a panel of professional mentors from Amcor, these pioneering students engaged in one of the University's foremost experiential education projects. Culminating in a final case presentation and feedback from Amcor mentors, this program pushed students to integrate their academic knowledge with typical business processes and packaging industry regulations.
"The Amcor professionals bring a level of expertise to our group, teaching us what it looks like to solve realistic problems in their market," said Lauryn Anderson '27, a student team marketer.
"USI has done a great job preparing me for the workforce, and this pilot program is the best hands-on experience."
Rocketing toward success, this semester's collaboration builds a strong case for leveraging relationships with local businesses to expand experiential learning opportunities at USI. The Amcor pilot has helped launch students' careers and cleared the way for future innovative partnerships between the University and regional industries.
BEYOND THE PILOT
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Even before joining the pilot program, Reherman had Amcor experience under his belt. After high school, he worked in the print department at Amcor prior to his higher education journey at USI.
"This project is especially meaningful to me because it connects my past, present and future in a very personal way. Being part of this partnership now feels like everything has come full circle."
Within the past five years, 40 USI students completed almost 60 internships at Amcor. Currently, 11 USI students are interning at the company, and two of those interns are doubling down on their experiences as part of the pilot program's student team. For Eickhoff and Rich, working with Amcor on multiple projects has been transformative.
"As a Project Engineering Intern preparing for a full-time role, this project helped broaden my horizons and teach me more about different types of engineering and problem solving."
- Mason Eickhoff '26
Rich's time as a Consumer Design Research Intern has allowed her to engage with the early scoping phase of projects, but the pilot program adds more layers to the process.
"As a Project Engineering Intern preparing for a full-time role," said Eickhoff, "This project helped broaden my horizons and teach me more about different types of engineering and problem solving."
At the culmination of the semester-long pilot program, USI representatives, project advisors and student team members joined Amcor once more to present this Applied Innovation Partnership to the Indiana Commission for Higher Education. The pilot's success highlights how syncing education and industry creates practical, hands-on experiences to help launch students' careers while supporting regional workforce needs.
