Berry Global Launches ‘Link’ Program with EVSC to Foster Class-to-Career Pipeline

WNIN | By Tim Jagielo

Published August 25, 2023 at 3:28 PM CDT

EVSC juniors wait for the news conference to begin at the new Berry Global classroom on Thursday, during their regular class time. This room was built on the factory floor at the Berry's Airport Warehouse location in Evansville. Students will have two hours of classroom and supervisory experience at various departments their junior year and paid internship opportunities their senior year.

An increased demand for career training at EVSC has led to a relationship between the school district and plastics manufacturer Berry Global, the region’s fourth largest employer

Braxton Holmes, 16, is a Central High School student. He appreciates the hands-on, in person approach to this program, and says he might pursue forklift certification when he's able.

Twenty-five EVSC juniors, all wearing Berry Global t-shirts, are waiting for the news conference to begin in the brand new enclosed classroom built right on the factory floor.

Just beyond the classroom, a fork truck is parked for photo ops, and beyond, the cavernous lanes of shelving at the area's fourth largest employer.

These Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation (EVSC) students are part of the Link program through Berry Global, and the inaugural cohort. It’s a pipeline through which EVSC students can apply, and begin career education as juniors, leading to paid internships and work as seniors.

The news conference is being held to celebrate the launch of the program at the company’s north side location near the Evansville Regional Airport.

EVSC instructor Jesse Simmons said he wants them to experience every department they can.

“So this first year, they're going to be primarily in the classroom, but hopefully job shadowing a couple hours a day,” Simmons said. “And then next year, they'll come back in the afternoon and start their internship. And that's where they'll be placed into a department and start their work journey from there.”

One such department is Logistics. Students will also have the chance to become fork truck certified, utilizing a new fork truck simulator.

Skylar Jackson, 17, listens to the news conference speakers Thursday morning.

This program stemmed from an increased demand for career education in EVSC.

Prior to actual hands-on work, they’ll complete safety training and then shadow various departments, and eventually take paid internships.

Braxton Holmes, 16, is a Central High School student. He appreciates the hands-on, in-person approach to this program.

“This is a unique program, how we get to come out here, and we get to have our classroom right in the middle of the warehouse,” he said. “And it's really unique to watch all of the people work.”

He’s interested in fork truck driving, and even running a plant someday — which are both eventual possibilities.

There were about 60 applications for this program, and these 25 students were selected based on their interview responses.

In attendance were both Berry Global and EVSC representatives including Superintendent David Smith, who urged the students to invest in themselves. “Show up each and every day prepared to take on the tasks that are given to you so that you learn so that you can have a great, rich, fulfilling life, because that's simply what we want for you,” he said.

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EVSC Superintendent David Smith addresses the students directly. "I want you to think about the investment that people have made in you," he said. "… you're successful just for being here. Over 60 folks wanted to do this, 25 are here."