Explore Financial Careers

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							            Networks Scholars
Explore Financial Careers




                                    Senior Networks Scholar Scott Koressel
                                  networking with Mike Alley, President and
                                     CEO of Patriot Investments, LLC at the
                                Corporate Mentor Luncheon earlier this year.




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T
The Networks Professional Development Program instituted a
new career exploration program for the Scholars during the
summer 2008. Students who have not yet chosen a major, and
those who are contemplating the broad range of career directions
offered within each major didn’t just wait for the information to
come to them. They were proactive and aggressive in obtaining
the information during the summer months. Scholars have the
opportunity to ask many questions that are best answered by
                                                                      Silas Gennicks, a Junior triple majoring in Operations
                                                                      Management and Analysis, Business Management, and Business
                                                                      Administration, said

                                                                      “…the career exploration visit to The National Bank of Indianapolis
                                                                      was a very productive and informative day. It was extremely
                                                                      organized and put together in a professional manner. It exceeded my
                                                                      expectations, and I hope I get more opportunities such as this in other
professionals in those fields, such as                                fields of business. It was great to hear a different perspective in the
                                                                      banking industry.”
• What does a (financial analyst, anti-money laundering foren-
  sic accountant, investment analyst, private banker, risk            Tony Askins, a Junior Finance major said of his visit to The
  manager, financial planner, etc.) actually do on a daily basis?     National Bank of Indianapolis,

• How does this job function fit in a small or large organi-          “I was extremely impressed by the level of knowledge that the
  zation? Where does this function fit as part of a corporate         speakers had and also by the high position they had within the
  team? How does this job function contribute to the                  company…one of the benefits was keeping it to a small group of
  corporate vision and bottom line?                                   students – in a smaller group individuals are more likely to open up
                                                                      and talk to the speakers. It was a great learning experience and I
• How have people in various financial services positions             hope to do it again soon!”
  developed their careers? What are the pros and cons of
  their jobs? How have mentors played a role in their                 Stephanie Balbach, a Junior Insurance and Risk Management
  development? What are future possible career paths for              major who is considering a career in underwriting, spent a day at
  those job functions?                                                Indiana Insurance, a branch of Liberty Mutual. Afterward she
                                                                      commented,
To help answer those questions, several Indiana financial
businesses opened their doors to Career Exploration Visits            “The Indiana Insurance tour was fantastic! The organization of
from Networks Scholars. Students spent time in an associate           the day was really impressive, and the employees extremely
training session at West Point Financial Group, job shadowing         welcoming. It was fascinating to see so many different parts of
at Liberty Mutual/Indiana Insurance, and in a roundtable              underwriting in one day. Not only did I gain knowledge about
discussion and corporate luncheon with several departmental           Indiana Insurance’s underwriting departments, I also witnessed the
vice presidents at The National Bank of Indianapolis.                 family-like atmosphere.”

Joanna Niehoff Tuohy, an ISU alum and Private Banking Vice            A common theme during all the corporate visits was the advice to
President at The National Bank of Indianapolis was enthusiastic       be impeccable in customer service and genuine in building trusting
about her participation in the program, declaring,                    relationships with customers and colleagues. Another was the
                                                                      assurance that even the most accomplished people didn’t start
“I enjoyed our visit with the Indiana State students. They were       out that way – that they had to have clear goals and objectives, but
well-prepared and asked thoughtful questions. I enjoyed hearing       also had to take risks to try unfamiliar tasks. The students were
about their varied work experiences along with organizations they     advised to be patient, to ask for more responsibilities and take
are involved with at school. I’m proud of my alma mater and the       advantage of learning opportunities, and make good use of mentors
quality of students they are recruiting!”                             in their chosen fields.

Her colleague Andy Thornton, VP and Corporate Banking Officer,
agreed, emphasizing,                                                      More Career Exploration visits are being planned for accounting,
                                                                            securities and insurance firms. Contact Kathleen Parish at
“There are not enough good bankers out there, so I am happy to              317-536-0281 x716 or kathleen.parish@isunetworks.org
spread the word of what a fun profession this can be (especially to             to host a Networks Scholar visit at your business.
bright, young students).”




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The scholars program has certainly come a long way since its inception in 2003. The students have been
transformed, the scholarship has strengthened, the corporate connections have grown and the experience
that each scholar receives does differentiate themselves from other college graduates. This year brings in
the sixth class of scholars into the program, ready to make a difference.
In April 2007, Indiana State University        senting about 20% of my students. These          Networks and affiliated Scholars typically
leaders announced the selection of financial   students consistently perform at the top of      make up approximately 10% of each class
services as one of only two Programs           the class. With the expansion of the ‘top        enrolled in ISU’s College of Business. To
of National Distinction at ISU. Financial      group’ of students, I have been able to          date, 97 young men and women have
services was selected for a number of          deepen my coverage of some topics and I          participated in the Networks Professional
reasons; chief among them, achieving a         have come to expect more from student            Development Program, including 30
national reputation for the quality of work    assignments. The Networks Scholars have
                                                                                                graduates. Scholars are selected for the
and reflecting the values of Indiana State     definitely raised the bar for all of my
                                                                                                program through a rigorous application and
while meeting state and national needs.        students,” said Dr. Concetta DePaolo,
                                                                                                interview process. As a group, Networks
                                               Associate Professor.
This designation represents much more                                                           Scholars consistently perform well above
than a nice label and a pat on the back – it                                                    their classmates when measured by Grade
                                               THE STUDENTS                                     Point Average (GPA) and SAT scores. For
signifies a real, long-term commitment to
the University’s financial services initia-    “Is this university a good fit for me aca-       example, the Networks Scholar class of
tives. At the forefront of this commitment     demically and socially? Would that college       2008 entered ISU with average SAT scores
lies NFI, one of ISU’s newest programs,        help me better achieve my goals? Where           200 points, or 20%, higher than the
and one of the most successful projects in     will I fit in?” The decision of where to         average ISU freshman. But these aren’t
University history.                            attend college is an extremely personal          your garden-variety honors students.
                                               process. Often, there’s more at play than        Spend a few minutes with these young
NFI is committed to educating tomorrow’s       just cost, reputation and geography.             men and women, and you’ll soon sense the
financial industry leaders. Putting the
                                                                                                motivation and self-awareness that sets
best-prepared graduates into the most          “Receiving the Networks Scholarship was
                                                                                                them apart from their peers.
promising jobs will result in unprecedented    the deciding factor in my attendance of
industry creativity and responsibility. At     Indiana State University. After my first
                                                                                                “I have always been very goal-driven.
the same time, building a top-quality          year with the program I can honestly say
                                               that I have made the right choice…               Being involved in Networks has helped me
educational program attracts the brightest
                                               Networks has the resume to prove we’re           to use the drive I have to help lead others
students and faculty to Indiana State.
                                               among the best,” said Brittany Faulkner,         into reaching their goals. I have learned
The implementation of Networks’ student        Class of 2011.                                   that success is much sweeter when others
programs has been transformative for                                                            are succeeding alongside you,” commented
Indiana State University and its College of    Time and again, students confirm the fact        Racheal Titus, Class of 2009
Business. Attracting the best and brightest    that they are equally interested in the
students to campus has effectively elevated    educational opportunities available to them
the threshold in terms of what is expected     outside the classroom as they are in the         THE SCHOLARSHIP
from – and by – ISU students.                  quality and variety of their coursework.         Over half of ISU students report being
                                               And increasingly, they expect to be well-        from families where neither parent has a
“I have definitely noticed the impact of the   prepared to enter the workforce upon             four-year degree. Through the Networks
Networks Scholars program within the           graduation. At NFI, we’re meeting these          Scholarship, the question of how to pay
classroom. In the last few years, I have       elevated expectations for high-achieving stu-    tuition is no longer an issue for the most
typically had a majority of the sophomore      dents to meet a critical need for professional   promising students hoping to attend
scholars in my statistics classes, repre-      leadership in the financial services industry.   Indiana State University. Networks




So Much More Than
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Just A Scholarship
NETWORKSFINANCIALINSTITUTE.ORG   FINANCIAL FOCUS   15
So Much More Than Just A Scholarship

                                                                                                                      is in connecting these young stars with
                                                                                                                      resources they can use to springboard past
                                                                                                                      the competition and truly benefit the field
                                                                                                                      of financial services. This is the Networks
                                                                                                                      Professional Development Program, com-
                                                                                                                      pleted by Networks, Presidential Business
                                                                                                                      majors and Gongaware Scholars.

                                                                                                                      We begin by partnering Scholars with
                                                                                                                      faculty and corporate mentors working in
                                                                                                                      the industry, representing a mix of corpora-
                                                                                                                      tions in banking, insurance, finance and
                                                                                                                      marketing. For positions in each of these
                                                                                                                      areas, competition among new graduates is
                                                                                                                      on the rise. Having access to an industry
                                                                                                                      professional – in addition to the expertise
                                                                                                                      of University faculty – is increasingly
                                                                                                                      important to high-achieving students.
                                                                                                                      Beyond answering questions about jobs
Senior Andrew Pyle with his mentor, Jim Reilly from Reilly Group, LLC, catch up at the Spring 2008 Corporate Mentor   and career choices, the mentor is one more
Luncheon at the ArtsGarden at Circle Centre Mall.                                                                     person invested in the student’s success.

                                                                                                                      “Through connections with my mentor,
Scholars receive financial awards to cover                       Senior Gongaware Scholar Erik Andersen
                                                                                                                      I’ve been able to visit her company and
four years of tuition, making it possible                        recently utilized a portion of his PDA to
                                                                                                                      learn more about public relations. As a
for these talented youth to pursue their                         travel to Networks’ annual Insurance
potential as financial services leaders.                                                                              marketing major, that has really opened up
                                                                 Reform Summit in Washington, D.C.
                                                                                                                      my eyes to the types of opportunities I
In addition to tuition, Networks Scholars                        “In the public eye, my trip to Washington            might have in the future, even outside of
each have access to a personal Professional                      D.C. could be viewed as an opportunity to            marketing,” said Jessica May, Class of 2008.
Development Account (PDA) in the                                 learn more about the future of the insur-
amount of $3,000. The PDA allows each                                                                                 The next step in a Scholar’s immersion
                                                                 ance industry. However, the educational
student to supplement their experience                                                                                into professional life lies in exploring what
                                                                 trip involved more spirit and passion than
with tailored training and experiences that                                                                           might happen after graduation. Each
                                                                 insurance regulation. Engaged by the
best support their own development                                                                                    Networks Scholar works with staff to
                                                                 speaker’s passion for reform and opportu-
needs. Upon approval from a program                                                                                   explore, apply for, select and complete an
                                                                 nity at the Summit, and hearing the pros-            internship with a company in his or her
administrator, Scholars can use these funds
                                                                 perity that politicians promised inspired            particular area of interest. Employers
to study abroad, attend conferences, visit
                                                                 my perseverance for education,” stated               themselves are thrilled with the quality of
corporations, subscribe to industry news
publications or participate in specific train-                   Andersen, Class of 2009.                             the interns coming out of Networks at
ing directly related to their professional                                                                            Indiana State. Our Scholars seek out
preparation. NFI also funds Professional                         THE CONNECTIONS                                      internships that make a real difference in
Development Accounts for honors students                                                                              the company. Sometimes, these intern-
participating in programs affiliated with                        We’ve recruited the brightest students to            ships lead to job offers upon graduation;
NFI. These affiliated scholars include                           Indiana State, and the Networks Scholars             other times, they lead to a change in plans.
Presidential Scholars at Indiana State who                       program, and removed many of the finan-              Either way, there’s no substitute for real-
are enrolled in the College of Business,                         cial barriers through the scholarship. On            world experience.
and Gongaware Scholars (high-achieving                           campus, these students are achieving in
students majoring in Insurance & Risk                            the classroom and becoming leaders                   Networks Scholars complement their
Management).                                                     among their peers. Where NFI truly shines            mentor and internship connections




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through selected job shadowing, industry         reliable, quality educational experience                          twice about it. It requires a lot of time and
speaker and business tour opportunities.         about one of today’s most pressing corpo-                         dedication, but in the end every minute
Over the past four years, students have          rate issues – ethics.                                             you spent towards something Networks-
taken the initiative to connect themselves                                                                         related will benefit you either personally or
with several businesses and professionals.       Scholar experiences don’t just occur                              professionally,” commented Casey Lock,
Please review the latest corporate impact        on special occasions. The Networks                                Class of 2009.
our scholars had this summer on page 9.          Professional Development Program fea-
Contact Kathy Parish, NFI’s career               tures gatherings of the entire Scholars                           The Networks Scholars and Professional
development specialist, today to discuss a       group each Thursday evening – including                           Development Programs were made possi-
corporate experience with our scholars,          Networks, Presidential and Gongaware                              ble through a generous grant from Lilly
                                                 Scholars – to consider a range of topics                          Endowment in 2003. The Endowment has
kathleen.parish@isunetworks.org.
                                                 related to professional development. From                         agreed to provide funding for the program
                                                 resume workshops to mock interviews,                              through 2009. That means that Networks
THE EXPERIENCES                                  personal skills inventories to time manage-
                                                                                                                   can recruit one more class of Scholars with
                                                 ment, every week of the semester
Considering all that’s been described about                                                                        existing funds. We’ve witnessed the impact
                                                 provides a new topic for discussion. These
the Networks Scholar program, it’s difficult                                                                       of this program on individual students and
                                                 seminars are so effective in preparing
to believe that much more could be said.                                                                           on the overall ISU campus community.
                                                 Networks and affiliated Scholars for the
Believe it or not, we’ve only scratched the                                                                        That’s why sustaining this program has
                                                 transition from school to work, the program
surface. A wealth of additional experiences                                                                        become a top priority for Networks and for
                                                 is being used as a template for professional
are open to Networks Scholars in the                                                                               ISU – to ensure many more promising
                                                 development throughout the university.
forms of international travel, leadership                                                                          students have the opportunity to come to
training, career planning and more.                                                                                Indiana State with promise and graduate
                                                 “This isn’t the type of scholarship where
                                                 you are handed the money and don’t think                          with the ability to prosper.
A strong understanding of cultural diversity
is becoming increasingly essential to the
well-rounded professional. Compared to           A group of Networks Scholars journeyed to Switzerland with NFI and ISU staff to learn about international banking and finance.
students campus-wide, Networks and
affiliated (Presidential and Gongaware)
Scholars are much more likely to travel and
study abroad. In fact, 80% of all Indiana
State University students who traveled
internationally during the Fall 2007 semes-
ter were involved in the Networks program.

In addition to exciting educational travel,
there are a great number of unique oppor-
tunities to develop leadership skills right
on campus. For example, Networks and
affiliated Scholars in their junior years plan
and execute a conference focusing on
ethics and corporate responsibilities. The
event attracts distinguished national
speakers and over 400 attendees from ISU,
neighboring universities, and the commu-
nity. This is not only an opportunity for
students to complete a complex team-
based project that showcases their profes-
sional acumen; the conference itself
provides Indiana State University with a



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   Ethics, Lies
 and Videotape       Microsoft official delivers the keynote speech at the 2008 Ethics and
                                                                                                            BY DAVE TAYLOR


                    Corporate Social Responsibility Conference at Indiana State University



Drawing on his experience             as       Pennsylvania. He recalled using federal          touted the now failed energy company as
                                               racketeering laws to prosecute savings and       an ethical giant.
a federal prosecutor and playing a video
                                               loan fraud cases in the 1980s – charges that
produced by one of the business world’s
                                               carried a maximum penalty of life in prison.     “Enron is a company that deals with
most infamous companies, Odell Guyton
                                                                                                everyone with absolute integrity. We play
didn’t take long to drive home his point
                                               “You can see that the government is serious      by all of the rules. We stand by our word.
about the consequences of ethical lapses
                                               about this,” he said. “Be careful. If you’re     We mean what we say; we say what we
during his keynote speech April 1 at
                                               going to be a professional, be the best          mean. We want people to leave a transac-
Indiana State University.                      professional you can be. Understand the          tion with Enron thinking that they’ve been
                                               environment in which you live and work           dealt with in the highest possible way as
“If you get it wrong … you may not be able
                                               and be aware of what’s going on around           far as integrity and truthfulness,” former
to see your children graduate from high
                                               you in the business world.”                      CEO Ken Lay said in the video.
school; you may not be able to see your
children get married because you might be      It is a world filled with new federal laws and   “It’s all lies,” Guyton said of the video,
wearing a jumpsuit in the crossbar inn,”       regulations designed to protect employees        noting that Enron was viewed at its peak
Guyton said.                                   and shareholders, Guyton noted during his        as one of the most progressive and ethical
                                               presentation. Many of those laws and regu-       businesses in the world.
The warning to more than 200 students,         lations were enacted in the wake of such
faculty and business people came barely        scandals as Enron and Worldcom.                  As students prepare to leave the university
one minute into Guyton’s keynote address                                                        and go out into the business world, it is
during the 2008 Ethics and Corporate           Guyton played an Enron Corp. video that          important for them to remember that the
Social Responsibility Conference.                                                               assets of a business do not belong to a
                                                                                                corporation but rather are held in trust for
“Do not lie – especially to men wearing                                                         shareholders,” Guyton said.
gold badges and carrying guns,” Guyton,
who is now compliance officer for                  The 2009 Ethics and Corporate                “If you treat that as your own, you are
Microsoft Corp., said in a presentation that                                                    violating that trust,” he said. While Enron
                                                  Social Responsibility Conference
also laid out plans for effective compliance                                                    may have espoused the theory of doing
with laws and ethical guidelines.                  will be held on March 30, 2009               things right, the real issue is “doing things
                                                                                                in the right way,” Guyton said.
Guyton served as a deputy district attor-             at Indiana State University.
ney in Philadelphia and as assistant U.S.                                                       In the wake of the demise of Enron and
attorney for the eastern district of                                                            Worldcom, a host of new state and federal




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                                                                                 Odell Guyton   Guyton’s presentation
                                                                                                included seven steps for
                                                                                                effective compliance
                                                                                                • Establish standards:
                                                                                                  Establish standards and
                                                                                                  procedures to prevent and
                                                                                                  detect criminal conduct

                                                                                                • Set examples: High-level
                                                                                                  personnel shall ensure that the
                                                                                                  organization has an effective
                                                                                                  compliance and ethics program

                                                                                                • Management integrity:
                                                                                                  Exercise due diligence and
                                                                                                  not place individuals with
                                                                                                  questionable backgrounds
                                                                                                  into positions of substantial
                                                                                                  authority

laws and regulations are now in place and       “It’s important for students to understand      • Communicate and train:
corporate chief executive and chief finan-      that it is key to be truthful in what they        Communicate the standards and
cial officers can be held criminally liable     do in their profession,” ISU junior
for violations, he noted – and it is up to      Racheal Titus said. A junior accounting
                                                                                                  procedures of compliance to all
everyone in business to be aware of “all        major from Toledo, Illinois. Titus was            employees and conduct effective
applicable laws.”                               co-executive director of this year’s              ethics training programs
                                                student-run conference.
When a student asked where to turn to
learn about laws applicable to a particular     “The importance of this conference is to
                                                                                                • Prevent and detect: Ensure
business, Guyton stressed the importance        give students the opportunity to learn            compliance and ethics programs
of continued education.                         more about ethics and corporate social            are followed, evaluate the
                                                responsibility outside of the classroom in a      effectiveness of such programs,
“If you are part of a profession, such as law   setting that gives the issue more focus.
or internal audit, you’re going to have a       The conference also gives students a              and publicize a confidential
basic training but you can’t stop there. You    chance to network with professionals and          system for the reporting of
have to join associations; you have to          students from other universities,” she said.      suspected wrongdoing
network; you have to speak to other people
in your field. You have to have a continued     In addition to the keynote speaker, the
focus on learning,” he said. He also encour-    day-long event included breakout sessions
                                                                                                • Promote and enforce: Promote
aged his audience to read the business          ranging on such timely topics as employee         and enforce compliance and
press to keep up with current practices.        wellness, corporate leadership, outsourcing       ethics programs consistently
                                                and going “green.”
“Ethics compliance and social responsibility
                                                                                                  throughout the organization
are highly important. It does reside at the     ISU’s annual Ethics and Corporate Social
top but it also resides with each individual    Responsibility Conference is planned and        • Address and respond:
within a corporation. Any person with           presented by the university’s Networks,           Take reasonable steps to
responsibility must know the right thing to     Gongaware and Presidents Scholars in              respond appropriately to
do and how to do it in the right way,”          the Networks Professional Development
Guyton said.                                    Program.
                                                                                                  criminal conduct


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             C E L E B R A T I N G



     success
                       Scholars enrolled in the Networks               Outstanding Leadership Award, was
                       Professional Development Program at             presented to then-junior Networks Scholar
                       Indiana State University don’t wind down        Racheal Titus. The award recognizes this
                       their commitment when the end of the            student’s unique, persistent and clearly
                       academic year is in sight. Rather, that’s the   outstanding leadership achievements. A
                       time for final exams, submitting projects       leader among leaders in the Scholars
                       and papers and confirming internships and       Program, Racheal has effectively facilitated
                       other summer opportunities. They do set         direction setting and worked with multiple
                       aside one evening however, to celebrate         individuals and teams to move in chosen
                       their own accomplishments, as well as           directions. She has been a positive change
                       those of their peers.                           agent and has distinguished herself through
                                                                       leadership efforts above and beyond the
                       The Year-In Review serves as a reminder of      program’s already high expectations.
                       the exceptional talent that resides among
                       this group of students. From freshmen           Two seniors were also honored with
                       through seniors, every class takes the time     Leadership Awards. Tiffani Root was rec-
                       to recognize outstanding achievements.          ognized specifically for leadership related to
                       The Year-In Review, awards and reception        her course work, communication skills,
                       was held on April 24th and featured awards      teamwork and self-discipline. Amber
                       in both academic and leadership categories.     Williams received her award for leadership
                                                                       as a University Learning Community Peer
                       The evening’s most prestigious honor, the       Assistant, president of Alpha Psi and helping




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to interview and select the next class
of Networks Scholars. Through their
exemplary work, both Tiffani and Amber
have brought significant recognition to
themselves, Networks Financial Institute,
The College of Business and Indiana
State University.

Seven juniors and four sophomores were
also recognized for their leadership skills,
and each class also recognized their top
academic performers based on overall
Grade Point Average.

“We’re so proud of all the students in the
Program, it’s difficult to select only a few to
receive these awards,” says NFI’s
Executive Director Liz Coit. “The awards
this year really highlight a group of students
who are setting the pace for the entire
College. It’s important to recognize that
kind of achievement.”



OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP AWARD
Racheal Titus, junior scholar                     ABOVE: Shanna Switzer educated underclassmen about how to take advantage of their college experience with the Networks
                                                  Professional Development Program.
                                                  BELOW: Andrew Schroeder gave a presentation about Network’s International Dining Experiences.
SCHOLAR OF THE YEAR AWARDS                        OPPOSITE PAGE: Racheal Titus won the Outstanding Leadership Award, the most prestigious award of the evening.


Senior: Tiffani Root
Juniors: Jonathan Lough
Sophomores: Kristin Elston,
Stephanie Balbach, Eric Gettelfinger
Freshman: Casey Clark, Kali Diethrich,
David Walters

LEADERSHIP AWARDS
Seniors: Tiffani Root, Amber Williams
Juniors: Kelsey Wilson, Racheal Titus,
Scott Koressel, Casey Lock, Robin Smith,
Erik Andersen, Todd Byram
Sophomores: Stephanie Balbach,
Allison Myers, Whitney O’Brien,
Kristin Elston,
Freshman: Andrew Schroeder,
Brittany Faulkner, Kelsey Powell,
Kelsey Throckmorton



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 A Fresh Start            First-Year Scholars Immerse
                          Themselves in New Experiences

To college freshmen, most everything is…well, fresh. From note-         activities are designed as a cumulative, four-year experience, this
books to roommates, email accounts to shower caddies, they spend        “kick-off” event serves as an important touchpoint designed to
the first few weeks on campus getting comfortable with all that’s       acclimate each student to his or her own critical role in the overall
new. For 17 of these new ISU Sycamores, the Networks                    program.
Professional Development Program will provide a roadmap for
making the most of their collegiate experiences – starting even         Also early in the semester, freshmen formed their teams to plan
before they have registered for classes.                                and execute four international dining events. These dinners not
                                                                        only give the students a chance to hone their leadership and proj-
Participants in the Networks Professional Development Program           ect management skills in a team-based environment, they also pro-
in 2008-2009 include 11 Networks Scholars, 3 Gongaware                  vide opportunities to learn about a variety of cultures through the
Scholars and 3 Presidential Scholars. They come from all over           lens of ethnic cuisine. Each dinner is also attended by a group of
Indiana, as well as Illinois and Kentucky. They know that they are      invited guests, encouraging practice of networking and verbal com-
similar to one another in that they have already proven                 munication skills in a social setting.
themselves to be high-achieving academically, and have shown
leadership qualities through their activities outside the               Livia Scott, director of the Networks Professional Development
classroom. Over the next four years, they will learn what makes         Program, takes extra care to get to know the newest group of
them stand out as individuals.                                          Scholars. “The progress we see from every single student from the
                                                                        time they arrive at ISU until graduation is truly astounding. The
To get that process started, on August 19th freshman Scholars           freshman year activities are designed to help determine a baseline
participated in team building exercises at the ISU Field Campus.        for each individual. It helps them become more self-aware, and
This is a great time to get to know the other first-year students       enables them to seek out opportunities to address their unique pro-
while learning lessons about team-building and problem solving.         fessional development needs.”
“Visiting ISU’s Field Campus was a great way to start off an exciting
new year for the Freshmen Networks Scholars. It gave us an              Seminar topics for first-year scholars include team communication,
opportunity to bond with one another while participating in various     problem-solving, leadership, and project and time management.
challenges that forced us to put our leadership skills to the test.”    “When you think of all the professional development experiences
Jaycee Hackney, Martinsville, IL.                                       these future industry leaders receive in just their first year at ISU,”
                                                                        says Scott, “there’s no comparison to their level of preparation to
The next week provided an opportunity to meet sophomore, junior         enter the workplace upon graduation. They’re not only extremely
and senior Networks Scholars and get a more comprehensive               knowledgeable in their areas of study in financial services, they are
introduction to the program. Since the professional development         confident in their professional acumen.” Now that’s refreshing.



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                                                                                          New Scholars

                                                                                           Julie Alig; Portland, IN


                                                                                     Lindsey Butorac; Bloomington, IL


                                                                                    Brittany Cuthbertson; Terre Haute, IN


                                                                                         Eden Dillman; Mitchell, IN


                                                                                         Doug Gehrke; Plymouth, IN


                                                                                      Jaycee, Hackney; Martinsville, IL


                                                                                      Aubrey Hancock; Vincennes, IN

ABOVE: Freshmen Scholars working on Team Building at the ISU Field Campus.
BELOW: Freshman Class winning the “Poetry Slam” at the Scholars Kick-off Meeting.        Kristina Hutson; Casey, IL


                                                                                    Matthew Illingworth; Remington, IN


                                                                                        Kendra Lindsey; Bicknell, IN


                                                                                      Mitchell McAdams; Seymour, IN


                                                                                        Kelsie Noble; Terre Haute, IN


                                                                                       Laura Painter; Ft. Thomas, KY


                                                                                           Ben Rice; Memphis, IN


                                                                                        Ryan Teppen; Evansville, IN


                                                                                        Kortney Unger; Seymour, IN



NETWORKSFINANCIALINSTITUTE.ORG                                                                      FINANCIAL FOCUS       23
Become a Networks Scholar.
It’s More Than the Money.         Alumni Spotlight
It’s Your Future                  Jessica May                                      Dustin Newlin
                                  2008 Graduate                                    2007 Graduate
A full-tuition scholarship
opportunity for new students
                                  What is your current position?                   What is your current position?
interested in a career in         I am currently an Orr Fellow working             The Boeing Company, Integrated
financial services at             as the Marketing Analyst at Author               Defense Systems – Accounts Receivable
Indiana State University          Solutions. The Orr Fellowship provides           Program Accountant
                                  an opportunity for undergraduate students
                                  searching for their first salaried, full-time    What are your career goals, and how does
What makes the Networks           position following graduation to determine       your current position fit in your career plan?
                                  a position that highlights their strengths       To do accounting for a large corporation –
Scholarship different?                                                             Boeing is a company that is known
                                  and passions. Graduates are placed with
• A four-year, full-tuition       a host company where they serve a two-           worldwide and is able to offer several
                                  year commitment engaged in innovative            different career paths so that I may find
  scholarship to Indiana State
                                  projects with company executives.                a position that best matches my skills
  University (covers in-state                                                      and interests.
  tuition only)                   What are your career goals, and how does
                                  your current position fit in your career plan?   What does the employer offer that will help
• A professional development      My main career goal is to make a positive        your career grow?
  account worth $3,000            difference within the world. My current          Boeing has a program they call the
                                  position at Author Solutions is helping          “Learning Together Program,” where
• A laptop computer               me gain knowledge about how successful           Boeing will cover your tuition costs to
                                  business is conducted. Through the Orr           go back to school to take classes and/or
• Leadership and professional
                                  Fellowship, I am learning how to harness         obtain degrees that enhance job perform-
  development training and        this knowledge and translate it to use in        ance, intellectual growth, professional
  opportunities                   my future entrepreneurial endeavors.             development and creative interests. This
                                  With my own business, I believe I can            will be very helpful to me when I choose
• Access to internship            make the positive difference I aim for.          to pursue my MBA. They also will reim-
  opportunities                                                                    burse the cost to obtain finance related
                                  What does the employer offer that will help      professional licenses and certifications
• Opportunities for               your career grow?                                such as CPA, CMA or CFA .
  international travel            Author Solutions is the leader in self-
                                  publishing and has experienced growth            Any surprises after graduation?
• Faculty and corporate           in a declining publishing industry. By           I haven’t really had any surprises after
  mentor support                  working with this fast-paced company,            graduation. One difference I’ve noticed
                                  the rate at which I am learning is much          since moving to St. Louis is that the
                                  faster than it would be within a company         only thing that most people know about
To apply online now, visit
                                  that is sitting safely in their large            Indiana State University is that its where
networksfinancialinstitute.org.   corporate status.                                Larry Bird went to college. Lets hope
Completed application packets                                                      my post-ISU career turns out to be as
must be postmarked by             Any surprises after graduation?                  successful as his.
                                  I am actually surprised at the free
December 1, 2008 to receive
                                  time I find myself with. In college I was
full consideration from the       involved in many different activities with
Networks Scholars Selection       a part-time job. Bloomington is a great
Committee.                        city and I am finding that filling that free
                                  time is becoming very easy with activities
                                  that do not involve studying or selling
                                  shoes (my past part-time job)!


24   FINANCIAL FOCUS                                                                        NETWORKSFINANCIALINSTITUTE.ORG

						
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