Graduates from the Kelley School of Business at IUPUI celebrated their accomplishments at Saturday’s commencement ceremony at the Indiana Convention Center. The class of 2018 students graduated with degrees including Bachelor of Science, Master of Science in Accounting, Evening MBA and Physician MBA.
Get to know some of our 2018 graduates and their plans for life after graduating:
Jordan Blanchette, BS’18 – Revamping the Kelley Indy Marketing Club
By the end of academic year 2017, the Kelley Indianapolis Marketing Club had dwindled to only seven members, four of them being the executive team, and club president Jordan Blanchette was determined to change that during his last year at Kelley.
It’s safe to say he reached his goal, as the Marketing Club grew from seven to 54 members and was awarded Organization of the Year by Kelley’s Student Government.
The Marketing Club had previously become a chapter of the American Marketing Association (AMA) in hopes of improving workshop quality and member retention, but what happened was the opposite. Partnering with the AMA meant the student membership price rose from free to $50 annually, and marketing workshops and events took much longer to put together.
Blanchette decided it was time for a change.
He started by working with the Club’s executive team to establish core values and a mission statement to guide short- and long-term planning. Their new mission, put simply, is to bridge ideas and power execution.
“This meant we were going to strive to identify the gaps students have in their marketing experience along with the ideas and creativity they bring to the table, and we would do our best to fill those gaps and provide a platform for those ideas to become something extraordinary,” Blanchette said.
Then the executive team established three committees within the club, to which each member is assigned upon joining the organization. Committee assignments ensured club member involvement and problem solving by each committee group.
“As soon as a new student comes to a meeting, we get their email and put them on a committee where they can start researching companies to speak at events or start writing social media posts,” Blanchette said. “It’s an immediate value add to your resume.”
In an attempt to rebrand the stale club, Blanchette and team invited students to participate in a logo challenge, where IUPUI students could submit designs for an official Marketing Club logo.
“Being collaborative and working with fellow students outside the classroom leads to other big opportunities,” Blanchette said. “You don’t have to be a 4.0 student that has 50 job offers to make something happen through Kelley. It goes to show that your Kelley experience is what you make of it.”
The Yatsak Brothers – All in the family
This graduation is truly all in the family for the Yatsak brothers.
Tyler, Aaron, and Brandon will all walk across the stage with their Kelley School degree in May.
Aaron and Brandon are twins, graduating with management majors, and their older brother Tyler will graduate with a marketing major.
“It’s such a feeling of accomplishment, and to complete this experience with my brothers is really rewarding,” said Brandon.
Looking back at their time at the Kelley School at IUPUI, Brandon says having his brothers going through the same classes and studying similar topics made it relatable – and more fun.
“We were able to discuss topics and help each other out through different classes,” he said.
“We also had a built-in carpool buddies,” he joked.
The Yatsak’s parents both graduated from IUPUI, and when it came time to choose a school – they say it was a no-brainer.
“The Kelley School of Business is prestigious and reputable. When we all found out that we’d gotten into the school – it really was an easy choice to pursue our business degrees through the Kelley School at IUPUI.”
They recall feelings of accomplishment throughout the program, like finishing I-Core, doing well in J411 and other large projects throughout their time at Kelley. After school, Aaron and Brandon plan to run a small store of their own, and Tyler plans to pursue marketing.
“To other students, I would just say, stick with it,” said Brandon. “There are moments that get intense throughout the semester and your years here, but have faith in yourself. You will make it through and be better for the experience.”
Matt Moe, BS’18 – IUPUI’s 2018 Orr Fellow
Graduating from the Kelley School of Business at IUPUI is only one of Matt Moe’s many accomplishments. After finishing his last season as a
Division I tennis player at IUPUI, Moe will begin post-grad life as an Orr Fellow.
The Orr Fellowship is a post-graduate program where top seniors at universities in Indiana and Ohio apply to participate in a two-year curriculum that includes full-time salaried employment, executive mentorship, professional development, networking and more.
“Throughout my Kelley career, I’ve been challenged in and outside of the classroom,” Moe said. “The experience not only developed my business skills, but also my personal skills. I think the combination of the two is what prepared me for the Orr Fellowship.”
More than 1,000 students applied for this year’s Orr Fellowship, and 70 fellows were selected, including Moe. He will be working full-time at Indianapolis host company
Sigstr.
“Kelley ensures its students are prepared for internships and jobs early in their academic careers,” Moe said.
“There were a lot of resources provided to set myself up for success, and I took advantage of them. On top of that, many course projects were related to real world business topics, especially during my junior and senior year. It has definitely contributed to feeling prepared and confident as I soon start ‘adulting.’”
Julia Williams, MSA’18 – Graduate Accounting Leadership Award
Julia Williams, MSA’18, received the Student Leadership Award in the Graduate Accounting Programs.
How has the Kelley School Graduate Accounting Programs experience enhanced your current career and future career goals?
My experience in the Kelley Graduate Accounting Program has been exceptional. It has exposed me to both professional and personal opportunities that I would not have had otherwise, and it has led to business opportunities and relationships. Kelley has an amazing reputation in the community and across the country that has allowed me to start conversations and build on my professional network.
What was your favorite part of the program?
My favorite part of the program has been the amazing opportunity to network and develop relationships with the students and faculty/staff. I’ve enjoyed building those relationships and learning more about different cultures and each individual’s story on how they got to where they are today! The diversity of the students is incredible.
What is your advice to current Kelley students?
My advice to current Kelley students is to get involved. Like with anything else, you get out what you put in. The Kelley School of Business, and in particular the Graduate Accounting Programs, offers students many opportunities to be involved in the community, meet industry leaders, and build relationships with faculty and staff. This is instrumental in a student’s success and overall educational experience. Take advantage of the opportunities and make the time….You won’t regret it!
What is your Kelley moment?
My Kelley moment is more than just a moment but the entire journey of being a part of the Kelley family. From the moment I inquired about the Graduate Accounting Programs to now being less than a month away from graduation, the Kelley School of Business has been one of my top life experiences. It took a significant amount of commitment and many sacrifices, but it is a decision I can’t be more thankful for. The Graduate Accounting Programs are top notch, and I’m so very grateful and proud to have been a part of this program.
Michael Haven, MBA’18 – Elite 50 & William M. Plater Civic Engagement Medallion
Michael Haven, MBA’18, was named one of IUPUI’s Elite 50 graduate students and awarded the William M. Plater Civic Engagement Medallion.
How has the Kelley School Evening MBA experience enhanced your current career and future career goals?
The Kelley Evening MBA experience has prepared me to take on any type of role within any size of organization. I feel like I have become a more well-rounded professional who has more tools to take on career challenges. Furthermore, the program has helped me recognize areas of improvement and tackle those in a safe environment. I feel more confident and prepared to take on any career challenge that comes my way.
What was your favorite part of the program?
My favorite part of the Evening MBA Program has been the time I have been able to spend with my classmates. We have all had to depend on each other over the 2.5 years of this program and, in that process, we spent a lot of time getting to know each other. We have all learned to trust each other because we had to in order to successfully complete our projects and assignments. You can’t always be at full strength or do all the work on every project. I knew I could trust my classmates to help me and that I didn’t always need to carry the load all by myself. Not only would I love to work with any of classmates in the future, but they are good friends that I plan on staying in touch with the rest of my life.
What is your advice to current Kelley students?
Challenge yourself – Put together personal goals for yourself that are ambitious and then reach for them. School is a place where you can try out new tools and techniques in an environment where you won’t be judged for it. Try to do things you have never done before. If you fail at what you tried to do, you will learn those concepts faster.
What is your Kelley moment?
My Kelley moment came at the end of my core classes in the program. I was exhausted and mentally stretched between my work, student, charity, and family commitments. I was not confident in my abilities and felt that I might not be able to continue. Some of my close friends and professors in the program came up to me at a social event and told me how much they respected my hard work and energy. They shared positive and honest feedback about my potential and impact. I felt confident and inspired from their unsolicited comments. I have done everything I could to live up to their vision of me from that day.
Congratulations to all Kelley 2018 graduates!
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