Ten Wabash College seniors have earned Orr Fellowships, guaranteeing two-year salaried positions with some of Indiana’s most dynamic, high-growth businesses.
Dylan Haslett, J. Kale Helms, Eli Johnson, Randy Kelley, Alex Kindig, Drew Rathbun, Christopher Royal, Quinn Sholar, Brennan Smith, and Xavier Tyler will receive executive mentorship and participate in a curriculum designed to develop understanding and skills vital to entrepreneurship and business leadership. Further, as Orr Fellows, they will grow professionally through an active and supportive network with opportunities for cultural and civic engagement.
The 10 Orr Fellowship recipients this year is a record for the College and ranks third among state institutions, trailing only Purdue (18) and Indiana (11).
“Congratulations to each of these Wabash seniors on earning a place in this competitive business fellowship,” said Cassie Hagan, director of professional development and Center for Innovation, Business, and Entrepreneurship (CIBE). “As the job market for new graduates has tightened these past few years, I am grateful to the Orr Fellowship and the host companies for prioritizing investment in entry-level talent. I commend the seniors who applied and went through the rigorous steps to finalist day. I’m excited to see where this experience will take you, and just as you did at Wabash, I hope you continue to take advantage of the opportunities to develop and network the Orr Fellowship affords you.”
Orr Fellows work in a variety of job functions, ranging from marketing to engineering to consulting, sales, and more. Fellows are matched with industries of all types and partner with companies from small start-ups to enterprise-level global organizations. This group has accepted positions in Indianapolis and Evansville.
Dylan Haslett: A financial economics major and business minor from Indianapolis, he will be employed by Midcontinent Independent System Operator in Carmel, Indiana. He is a member of the Wabash baseball team and a supplemental instruction leader in microeconomics.
J. Kale Helms: An economics major and French minor from Owensburg, Indiana, he will be employed by Cloud
Accounting Staffing in Indianapolis. He is a member of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity and the Stephenson Institute for Classical Liberalism and is a speech tutor.
Eli Johnson: A psychology major and business minor from Bluffton, Indiana, he will be employed by Selerix in Indianapolis. He is a member of the Sphinx Club and the Independent Men’s Association, while also serving as a campus ambassador for the admissions office.
Randy Kelley: A psychology major and religion minor from Sullivan, Indiana, he will be employed by American Water
in Evansville. He is a member of the Wabash basketball team and the CIBE.
Alex Kindig: A Classics and religion double major with a minor in history from Brook, Indiana, he will be employed by Banterra Bank in Evansville. He is a Wabash football student assistant and a member of the pre-law society and Wabash theater.
Drew Rathbun: An economics major and political science minor from Kalamazoo, Michigan, he will be employed by
Covideo in Indianapolis. He is a member of the CIBE and serves as the vice president of the campus pickleball club.
Christopher Royal: A political science major and Classics minor from Bloomfield, Indiana, he will be employed by Midcontinent Independent System Operator in Carmel, Indiana. He is a member of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity, the Sphinx Club, and the mental health concerns committee.
Quinn Sholar: An art major and economics minor from Indianapolis, he will be employed by the Mind Trust in
Indianapolis. He is chairman of the Malcolm X Institute of Black Studies (MXIBS), a member of the Sphinx Club, Wabash football and track and field teams, and is a representative of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
Brennan Smith: An economics major and computer science minor from Newburgh, Indiana, he will be employed by Atlas Van Lines in Evansville. He serves on the campus intramural committee and has traveled to Spain and Belgium as part of a Wabash immersion course.
Xavier Tyler: A philosophy major and chemistry minor from Evansville, will be employed by American Water in his
hometown. He is a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity, MXIBS, and the Wabash football team.
To be considered for an Orr Fellowship, a student must demonstrate leadership on and off campus, have a cumulative 3.2 GPA or higher, and have a strong interest in entrepreneurial business or organizational leadership.
A total of 49 Wabash students have earned Orr Fellowships since 2007, including 44 in the last nine years.