What She Wanted From a Packaging Science Internship
When Clemson University packaging science student Anna began looking for her next internship, she knew she wanted something different.
A junior pursuing a degree in packaging science with a minor in sustainability, Anna had already completed an internship with a larger packaging company. This time, she was looking for an experience that would give her greater exposure to the work — and an opportunity to learn by doing.
When Clemson’s internship coordinator shared an opening for a structural design intern at Pak-Pro, it caught her attention. Pak-Pro worked with brands she recognized and products she encountered in everyday life. From what she saw on the company’s website and social media, she also saw a company focused on solving interesting packaging challenges and developing innovative solutions.
It looked like a place where she could learn a lot.
From Application to First Project
Anna got her first glimpse of Pak-Pro’s culture before she even joined the company. After she applied, the process moved quickly, from an initial interview to additional conversations and ultimately an offer. Once she arrived, she discovered that same sense of ownership carried through to the way Pak-Pro works.
Her manager, Head of Design Yan, was prepared for her arrival and ready to get her involved. She also had the opportunity to learn from Head of Technology Scott, who exposed her to new tools and technologies and helped broaden her understanding of the packaging process. Both brought years of experience to the table, and both were eager to share what they knew.
What stood out to Anna wasn’t just their expertise. It was their willingness to share it.
Yan treated Anna as someone who could contribute, not simply an intern there to observe. He was interested in what she was learning at Clemson and eager to share his own knowledge and experience. That mutual respect made it easy for Anna to ask questions, try new things, and learn.
And she didn’t spend weeks watching from the sidelines.
Real Projects, Real Responsibility
Once Anna completed her initial orientation, Pak-Pro began handing projects to her quickly.
One of her first assignments was developing a new pizza box for a convenience foodservice application. The project introduced her to grease-resistant paperboard and allowed her to work through structural design considerations and create prototypes.
Most importantly, she was able to take ownership of the work. For Anna, it was refreshing to be trusted with a meaningful project rather than being limited to a small piece of a larger assignment or navigating layers of red tape before she could contribute.
That hands-on experience also allowed her to see how structural packaging design connects to the rest of the manufacturing process. Throughout the internship, Anna interacted with people across Pak-Pro, from customer service and project management to press operators, die cutting, and tooling. Those interactions gave her a broader understanding of how an idea moves from a design concept to a finished package.
“What stood out to me was how quickly I was trusted with real projects. I was able to apply what I’ve learned at Clemson, while learning from people with years of experience in packaging. Everyone was willing to answer questions, share their expertise and listen to my ideas.” — Anna, Structural Design Intern
Expertise Without Ego
Asked to describe the Pak-Pro culture, Anna pointed to a combination that isn’t always easy to find: deep experience paired with a genuine eagerness to keep learning. She encountered people who had spent years mastering their craft but were still interested in new ideas, new technology, and even what she was learning in the classroom.
That extended beyond the design team. Anna had conversations with Pak-Pro CFO Steve Weixel and Head of Quality Evie. Rather than simply telling her how Pak-Pro did things, they wanted to hear what she thought. They asked what she was seeing, what she was learning, and what Pak-Pro might do differently.
For a college intern, having experienced leaders genuinely interested in her perspective made an impression. It reflected the culture she experienced throughout Pak-Pro: hard-working, experienced, supportive, welcoming, and respectful.
“Anna brought a fresh perspective to our design team and was ready to contribute from the start. We were able to share our experience with her, but we learned from her, too. That exchange of ideas is one of the things that makes working with the next generation of packaging professionals so valuable.” — Yan, Head of Design
Bringing School to Work — and Work Back to School
For Anna, one of the greatest benefits of the internship was how naturally it complemented her Clemson education.
She was able to take concepts she had learned in packaging science courses and apply them to real customer projects, materials, and manufacturing challenges. At the same time, the experience gave her new knowledge and context she could bring back to the classroom.
What a Packaging Science Internship Should Offer
That connection between education and real-world experience is what a packaging science internship should provide. It is also the standard we hold ourselves to when a student joins us: real projects, real responsibility, and access to people who will actually answer the question.
Would she recommend Pak-Pro to other students considering an internship?
“100%.”
For students who want to do more than observe — to work alongside experienced packaging professionals, contribute to real projects, and understand how packaging moves from an idea to production — Anna’s experience shows there’s plenty to learn in a packaging science internship at Pak-Pro.
And at Pak-Pro, learning goes both ways.
Interested in an Internship at Pak-Pro?
If you’re a packaging science student looking for hands-on experience, we’d like to hear from you. Reach out through our contact page and note that you’re inquiring about an internship in the reason field, and we’ll route your message to the right person.