Two Seniors Selected for Prestigious Orr Fellowships
Annie Kennedy '14, left, and Sara Napierkowski '14 are among
the 2014 Orr Fellows recently announced.Contact:
Gwen O’Brien
Director of Media Relations
Saint Mary’s College
Notre Dame, Ind.
(574) 284-4579
April 10, 2014 (Notre Dame, Ind.)— Saint Mary’s College is proud to announce that for the third consecutive year Saint Mary’s seniors have been named Orr Fellows. Annie Kennedy ’14 of Gainesville, Fla. and Sara Napierkowski ’14 of Bethlehem, Pa. were recently announced as incoming fellows. Previous Orr Fellows from Saint Mary’s include Nichole Clayton ’13, Amanda Lester ’12 and Melissa Jackson ’12.
UPDATE: Sara Napierkowski started her
Orr Fellow position at Teradata in June.
Here she is on her first day on the job.Commonly referred to as the Orr Fellowship, the Governor Bob Orr Indiana Entrepreneurial Fellowship was established in 2001, and provides a unique opportunity to soon-to-be college graduates. Approximately 35 Orr Fellows are selected each year from hundreds of applicants to break into the professional world through paid positions with high-growth Indiana companies. Applicants are usually natives of Indiana or have attended a college/university in the state. During their two-year tenure, Orr Fellows gain executive-level mentorship at their host companies and build professional and peer networks.
Upon graduation, both Napierkowski and Kennedy will work for Orr Fellowship host companies located in Indianapolis. Through this two-year postgraduate opportunity, recipients gain experience with other high-potential professionals within dynamic, fast-growing entrepreneurial companies in Indiana.
Napierkowski, an Italian and global studies double major with a concentration in global business administration, will join Jackson at Teradata. As a global leader in data warehousing and analytic technologies, Teradata specializes in helping companies consolidate and analyze large amounts of data to ultimately inspire further corporate development.
“I will most likely have a role in marketing and research,” Napierkowski said. “When I start in late June, I will do some preliminary work. This will then determine in which area my skills will be most beneficial for the company.”
Kennedy, a communication studies major and public relations and advertising minor, will join Clayton at Courseload. Courseload primarily helps higher education institutions transition into the digital space. Additionally, Courseload strives to make classroom materials and resources more affordable and accessible for students by creating integrated technology platforms.
“I'll be starting out in services to learn about the ins and outs of the company” Kennedy said. “Then, as time goes on, I'll have to opportunity to take on other responsibilities.”
Clayton now works as an academic services manager for Courseload focusing on retention and growth at universities where they are already established.
“Next to their experiences at their host companies, Courseload and Teradata, Sara and Annie will be immersed in a very innovative and passion driven community,” Clayton said of the Orr Fellowship community. “Indianapolis is the perfect city for young professionals to explore, learn, and develop.”
The previous Orr Fellows from Saint Mary’s have come back to campus and spoken to students about their experiences. “Hearing about how positive their personal experiences were as Orr Fellows really drew me to the program, and helped me decide it was something I really wanted to do,” Kennedy said.
“During this past recruitment season, it was really important to me to find some fellow Belles to share this exciting and rewarding experience with,” Clayton said. “The constant exposure to new opportunities, talented community leaders, and ambitious peers is what makes the Orr Fellowship so special.”
About the Orr Fellowship: Commonly referred to as the Orr Fellowship, the Governor Bob Orr Indiana Entrepreneurial Fellowship was established in 2001, and provides a unique opportunity to soon-to-be college graduates. About 35 Orr Fellows are selected each year from hundreds of applicants to break into the professional world through paid positions with high-growth Indiana companies. Applicants are usually natives of Indiana or have attended a college/university in the state. During their two-year tenure, Orr Fellows gain executive-level mentorship at their host companies and build professional and peer networks.
About Saint Mary’s College: Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Ind., is a four-year, Catholic, residential, women’s liberal arts college offering five bachelor’s degrees and more than 30 major areas of study, such as business, nursing, art, chemistry, and social work. The College’s single-gender environment has been proven, in study after study, to foster confidence, ethical leadership, and strong academic success. Saint Mary's College ranks 76 among the 248 “Best National Liberal Arts Colleges” for 2014 published by U.S. News and World Report. Founded in 1844 by the Sisters of the Holy Cross, Saint Mary’s College’s mission is to educate women and prepare them for postgraduate success whether it’s a first job, graduate school, or postgraduate service.