When he was applying for college, Jared Hutchek, BS’24, knew he wanted to pursue environmental law. He found that the Undergraduate Program at the Kelley School of Business in Indianapolis combines the ability to earn a bachelor of business on the same campus where he can get an environmental science degree. As he prepares for his final year at Kelley, Jared says the hands-on learning at Kelley have prepared him for the career ahead.
“I’ve had an amazing experience at Kelley. I got to meet a lot of great professors, had a lot of amazing experiences, including being able to argue in front of appellate judges for a class,” Jared said. “I had a really great team for the I-Core group project, and the business simulation class I’m in right now is giving me the opportunity to experience what it’s like to manage a business. It’s the little things like these that make Kelley special.”
Originally from Speedway, Indiana, Jared chose the Kelley School in Indianapolis for its location close to home, its reputation, and its affordability. He decided to earn a business degree in management prior to law school so he could provide greater insight to clients in the private sector as an environmental attorney.
“I thought business school could provide me with a lot of skills to understand what businesses are thinking as they make decisions on environmental policies,” Jared said. “This will give me an advantage over the competition in terms of experience and skills I could use in the courtroom.”
Thanks to Kelley, Jared has already gained experience in a courtroom. During an Honors business law class, he worked on a mock case with a group of classmates and argued it in front of an Indiana appellate judge.
“Toward the end of the semester, we went to the Indiana Statehouse and got to argue our case in front of a real judge and get feedback in real time,” Jared said. “I had a lot of fun with it, just getting to practice and improve my speaking and litigation skills.”
The business lessons at the Kelley School are not limited to a textbook; they’re designed to be applied in real-world situations. During a summer internship, Jared put to work the skills he gained at Kelley while supporting projects at Silver Dollar City amusement park in Branson, Missouri.
“I was working on a project in my internship, and I really used those research skills and how to put together a formal recommendation with the proper data and proper information,” Jared said. “It was very useful, and I knew my supervisors were pleased with what I was able to provide for them. I definitely feel like Kelley prepared me well for that internship.”
Jared also found support and expertise from Kelley School faculty, who are influential in his learning process. He credits business law professors Judith Wright and Charlotte Westerhaus Renfrow, and Vicki Daniels, professor of operations, with influencing and supporting his journey through Kelley.
“They have a lot of experience in their respective fields, and they share great information, stories, and overall advice for the field. You grow your relationships with those professors over time – it isn’t just what they can teach you in the course itself, but how they guide you down the professional development path you want to go with advice on what to look for in a respective career,” Jared said. “Professors like these have taught me a lot more than what they teach in class.”
Kelley professors guide you down the professional development path you want to go with advice on what to look for in a respective career.”
When he first arrived on campus, Jared wasn’t sure how he wanted to get involved, but he decided to start sampling student organizations that interested him. He’s a member of the Kelley Honors Advisory Board, the law school’s mock trial team, and both Phi Eta Sigma and Alpha Lambda Delta National Honors Societies.
“I’d try it out and see if I liked it. I got a lot of leadership experience out of these groups, plus I help plan fun events that others get to enjoy and I get to enjoy,” Jared said. “It gives you something else to do beyond simply going to class and doing all the work. Getting involved gave me a more complete and exciting college experience.”
This spring, Jared was named among the IUPUI Top 100 Outstanding Students. IUPUI selects 100 undergraduate seniors and juniors who demonstrate academic excellence, campus leadership, and community engagement to be named among the Top 100. Students are nominated and chosen by a judging process
“It was amazing. I didn’t know if I was going to get it or not, and just knowing I was able to do that was really humbling and exciting,” Jared said.
“If you’re determined to get it done and you can see the growth that can come from doing all the work, Kelley is worth it.”
Best wishes for achieving your goals Jared.