Premier Indiana post-undergraduate experience to provide career opportunities, community, networking and professional development to more than 100 upcoming graduates
INDIANAPOLIS (Aug. 1, 2024) – Orr Fellowship, an early career development program for versatile high-achievers and future-focused businesses in Indiana, announced today it is now accepting applications for its 2025 cohort of Orr Fellows. Selected finalists will interview and be matched with partner companies on Nov. 22, 2024.
Founded in 2001, Orr Fellowship recruits, assesses and matches university graduates with high-agency roles in growing Indiana businesses. Together, Orr Fellowship and partner companies give graduates the professional development resources and support network they need to accelerate their careers.
“Orr Fellowship has created the premier post-undergraduate experience in the nation,” said Steven Emch, President of Orr Fellowship. “We are changing the trajectory of Fellow lives, businesses and the state of Indiana. Not only have we found that Orr Fellows go on to outearn their peers by 2.5 times, but 84% of Orr Fellows remain in Indiana after their Fellowship, helping to retain top talent across the state.”
Orr Fellowship is experiencing another year of growth in 2024, empowered in part by a Lilly Endowment grant to invest in capacity-increasing activities. The organization has a network of 624 alumni and 120 current Fellows in the program. With 41 partner companies, Orr Fellowship added 13 businesses to its network in 2024.
Qualified candidates for the upcoming cohort must be anticipating graduation in August 2024, December 2024 or May 2025 and have a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher; a strong interest in leadership or business; demonstrated leadership and/or impactful work, life and volunteer experiences; and authorization to work in the United States. Orr is a two-year commitment, with many Orr Fellows remaining with the partner company as they progress in their careers.
Orr Fellows are hired full-time for a variety of job functions, ranging from marketing to engineering to consulting, sales and more. These roles span across industries, from small start-ups to enterprise-level global organizations. In addition to full-time employment with a partner company, Orr Fellows participate in a unique curriculum geared towards leadership, continued learning and professional development designed to both challenge and propel them toward a career of excellence.
Outside of their full-time roles, Orr Fellows receive additional development opportunities, including a series of business leader speakers, non-profit consulting projects, career coaching, personal finance workshops and pitch competitions. In addition, Fellows benefit from being part of a community of Orr Fellow peers who are also experiencing their first professional post-graduate roles along with an engaged network of alumni. Orr Fellows maintain key areas of influence within the Orr Fellowship organization, including Fellow, alumni and community engagement; marketing; diversity, equity and inclusion; recruitment; continued learning; and serving as chief of staff.
“Orr provided my entrée to Indy’s startup community, which set the course of my career and opened doors to incredible opportunities. From founding a startup to TechPoint CEO to my current role as partner at venture firm High Alpha, the Orr experience has impacted my life in profound ways,” said Orr Fellowship alumnus and High Alpha Partner Mike Langellier. “On a personal note, I met my wife and some of my best friends through the Fellowship, forming a fun and powerful professional and social network. No other organization has had a bigger impact on the trajectory and quality of my life than the Orr Fellowship.”
Additionally, in partnership with the Evansville Regional Business Committee (ERBC), Orr Fellowship has made a significant move toward deepening its impact across the state of Indiana by expanding to the Southwest Indiana region. This new chapter will welcome its inaugural class in June 2025. The first Evansville cohort of Orr Fellowship partner companies includes Old National Bank, United Companies, Koch Industries, Toyota (TMMI), Deaconess Health System, Robert Dietrick Company, Welborn Baptist Foundation, Warehouse Services Inc., Anu, Heritage Federal Credit Union, InGen Technologies Inc. and more.
Orr Fellowship is also accepting applications for both the Central Indiana and Evansville Region chapters for partner companies. A list of current partner businesses can be found here. To become an Orr Fellowship partner company, apply here.
College seniors who are anticipating graduation in the coming months or spring 2025 and are interested in pursuing the Orr Fellowship can apply here.
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About Orr Fellowship
Founded in 2001, Orr Fellowship is an early career development program for versatile high-achievers and future-focused businesses in Indiana. The organization recruits, assesses and matches university graduates with high-agency roles in growing Indiana businesses. Together, Orr Fellowship and partner companies give graduates the professional development resources and support network they need to accelerate their careers in business and positively impact Indiana. Learn more about Orr Fellowship here.
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