Six Wabash College seniors earn Orr Fellowships

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Six Wabash College seniors have earned Orr Fellowships, guaranteeing them two-year, salaried positions with a host company in Indianapolis. This marks the most Orr Fellows from Wabash in an academic year in the fellowship’s history.

As Orr Fellows, Lucas Bender, Drew Bluethmann, Isaac Cloran, Kenny Coleman, Solomon Davis and Gerard Seig will receive executive mentorship and participate in a curriculum designed to develop understanding and skills vital to entrepreneurship and business leadership. Fellows will also grow professionally through an active and supportive network with opportunities for cultural and civic engagement.

“I am delighted with the success our six recipients achieved this year,” said Steven Jones ’87, Dean for Professional Development. “Orr Fellowship is a respected program and has more than 1,300 applicants each year. To reward six Wabash men with this great honor is a proud moment for the College. It also sends a message to high school students who have business and entrepreneurship goals in their future, Wabash is a great option to consider.”

A student must demonstrate leadership potential on and off campus, have a cumulative 3.5 GPA or higher (students with a 3.2 GPA may be considered if they have extensive leadership experience), and have a strong interest in entrepreneurial business or organizational leadership to be considered for an Orr Fellowship.

Bender is a financial economics major and biology, business, and religion triple minor from Zionsville, Indiana. He will serve as an engagement coordinator for the marketing team at Remodel Health, a software and service company focused on innovative solutions for employer health benefits.

“I am incredibly excited for the opportunity to work at Remodel Health,” Bender said. “To be selected as an Orr Fellow means that I’ll be able to continue building key competencies both in marketing and entrepreneurship over the next two years.”

Bluethmann is a political science major and history and Germany double minor from Greenfield, Indiana. He will be working as an associate consultant at Resultant, a consulting firm focused on technology, data analytics, and digital transformation.

“I feel honored to be selected as an Orr Fellow, and I am excited to start my career with such an opportunity,” Bluethmann said. “I only succeed in the process with the support of my family, fraternity brothers, and current Wabash Orr Fellows. I also could not be where I am today without the help of my career mentors, Rob Shook ’83 and the late Roland Morin ’91.”

Cloran is a chemistry major and business and classics double minor from Zionsville. He will be starting his work with the data and analytics team at EM Brands, an apothecary.

“I’m feeling very excited to be a part of a great program and I’m looking forward to helping EM Brands grow over the next couple years,” Cloran said. “Many thanks to the Wabash guys who are in the Orr Fellowship program for their advice.”

Coleman is a rhetoric major and Black Studies minor from Muncie, Indiana. He will be working at Genesys, a tech-based company that specializes in creating software that helps businesses create a better customer service experience.

“Getting the fellowship is something I couldn’t have done without Wabash,” Coleman said. “I hope that being a fellow enables me to open the door for other students of color at Wabash to explore and better themselves. I’m truly thankful to God and the Orr Fellowship for this opportunity.”

Davis is a religion major and education minor from Washington, Indiana. He will serve as a strategic relationships manager with NEXT Studios, a venture studio designed for startup companies.

“Being selected as an Orr Fellow is excellent, and is a testament to the environment I came from. Growing up in Washington, I was exposed to the impact entrepreneurs can have on a community,” Davis said. “Seeing members of my community strive to create and draw in businesses that help serve the locals made me so passionate about business. My hometown is what grew my interest in the Orr Fellowship and ultimately to NEXT studios, a company that seeks to support the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Indiana.”

Seig is a financial economics major and Asian Studies and religion double minor from Noblesville, Indiana. He also will be joining EM Brands, serving in a business analyst role that focuses on projects across the company.

“I am very excited for the Orr because it is a great opportunity to make connections in Indianapolis, and it’s a great community that pushes you to continue your professional development,” Seig said. “I have wanted to participate in the Orr since my freshman year, so it is amazing to even have that opportunity and I cannot wait to draw all I can from the experience!”

Since 2007, 32 Wabash students have been awarded Orr Fellowships, including 19 in the last five years.