Elena Sarmiento ’23 Chosen as the 2023 Orr Fellow
Saint Mary's graduate chosen for prestigious Orr Fellowship for the 12th consecutive year
Saint Mary’s senior Elena Sarmiento '23 has been selected for the prestigious Governor Bob Orr Indiana Entrepreneurial Fellowship. This two-year program gives recent graduates the experience of working with Indianapolis-based companies that are committed to mentorship and professional development. The core pillars of the Orr Fellowship are career, commitment, community and continued learning, with community being what Sarmiento is most looking forward to. She has enjoyed the small, close-knit community that Saint Mary’s has provided and stated that she “was very happy to find that the Orr Fellowship provides something similar in a big city.”
Sarmiento is quite active on campus with a double major in psychology and economics, a double minor in dance and italian, and involvement with numerous clubs on campus including being the president of the dance team and vice president of Psi Chi. When reflecting on her time at Saint Mary’s, she recalled that the liberal arts education allowed her to pursue all of her passions which she believes assisted her in standing out among applicants. Additionally, she noted that the small class sizes allowed her to feel very engaged, and comfortable speaking up in discussions, which in turn allowed her to “develop some of the soft skills that employers look for, especially in the Orr Fellowship.”
When looking at postgraduate opportunities, Sarmiento looked for programs that aligned with her personal values. She was drawn to the Orr Fellowship’s initiatives to better the Indianapolis community through philanthropic engagements. She also believes that “finding a job that already values continued learning will make the transition from college life to professional life easier” and will set her up for future success. She has accepted a position with Fi3 Financial Advisors, LLC as a Client Service fellow and is eagerly awaiting the start of this program.
February 16, 2023
