Kelley senior Luke Lonneman, BS’25, has had a great year. The business management and real estate co-major has been completing the hands-on real estate workshop in the Undergraduate Program at the Kelley School of Business Indianapolis, and he’s earned three scholarships: from the Commercial Real Estate Development Association, the Harold E. Eisenberg Foundation, and also the Geraldine S. Bernath Scholarship for academic excellence and leadership at Kelley.
“I feel blessed. I’ve put in a lot of effort and some long nights, especially in the last year,” Luke said. “I attribute my success to the Real Estate Club here at Kelley Indianapolis and my instructor, [Real Estate Lecturer] Sara Coers for every scholarship I’ve received. She’s written my letters of recommendations, and she’s the one of those professors I’ve developed a true genuine relationship with.”
Luke wasn’t always on the path to real estate. He came to IU Indianapolis to play Division 1 soccer. But at the end of his sophomore year, he decided to leave soccer and suddenly had a lot of time on his hands. “I felt lost,” he said. “I went from waking up at 5 a.m. to getting up at 1 p.m. just because I didn’t have anything to do.”
His academic advisor suggested that Luke lean into his interest in real estate. He showed up to Sara’s Intro to Real Estate Analysis course and sat in the front row, ready to see if this could be his next passion.
“It hooked me. It’s such a people-focused industry,” Luke said. “And Sara helped me develop a love for real estate. Ever since that first class, I’ve worked with her on class projects and competitions. She’s always been my mentor and go-to for anything I’ve ever needed. If I’m lost on something, I reach out to her.”
Sara began her career in commercial real estate appraisal, where she worked until she became an instructor at Kelley, where she’s also the associate director of the IU Center for Real Estate Studies. Through the co-major at Kelley and the Real Estate Workshop, “Sara,” as her students call her, offers students a wealth of hands-on learning, industry connections, and ongoing support. She recognizes the importance of creating and maintaining relationships in the real estate field, and Sara makes it her goal to help students grow their network at Kelley with her as their colleague.
“I become your one stop shop at Kelley: if you need resume help or a connection with someone, I’ll make it happen,” she said. “The students reach a certain level in their studies, and they just need that next little push to go off on their own. Their success or lack thereof is completely their own, but I’m a support system when they need it.”
Luke says Sara is among several Kelley faculty who have gone out of their way to support his interests and help him make connections for the career ahead. Teaching Professor Kim Donahue and Clinical Associate Professor Charlotte Westerhaus-Renfrow–just to name a few–have also supported him to develop his education, goals, and connections while also helping him feel seen.
“When you leave these professors’ classrooms, they remember your name, your face, and your impact on the class. You’re not just another name,” Luke said. “That’s what I’ve loved at the Kelley School of Business: you are treated like a friend or colleague, and that goes a long way as far as education and advancing our careers.”
“That relationship really elevates students’ expectations of themselves because they know that not only do I have expectations of them, I am also cheering for their success,” Sara added. “I want to make sure they feel like there’s someone out there who’s in their corner and hoping they’ll be successful and help them reach a bit harder for their success.”
Sara says it’s particularly important for students studying real estate to make connections at college with their peers, student organizations, and faculty because these students will be working together for many years to come.
“For the next five to ten years, they’ll still be connecting with one another at professional events and doing deals together. If Luke became a broker, for example, he’d have a built-in clientele because he’s been a part of this community,” Sara said. “Cruising through college and not ever knowing or meeting anyone is a very isolated existence, and you’re really missing out.”
As Luke wraps up his final year at Kelley, he’s trying to learn as much as he can about the variety of real estate professions available, from appraisers and brokers to development and construction. He’s completed one internship in development and appraisal, and has another one lined up in brokerage. His options are wide open.
“I currently seeking a capital markets internship for the spring. I’m in that unique and fortunate position where I’m not exactly finding a place where to go but finding out what I want to do or love the most,” Luke said. “And I’ve loved it all because I’ve only interacted with great people so far who I’d love to work with. We’ll see where I end up.”
Wherever he decides to take his Kelley degree, Luke says he know he has a large network and the expansive networks of his Kelley professors to support him. Sara says that’s part of the student experience at Kelley– to benefit from the expert knowledge and careers the faculty have built.
“I’ve continued to build my network over the years by constantly meeting new people and finding new ways they can help the program or work with our students,” Sara said. “It’s an important component of success for our program and the future careers of our students.”
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