Business Fellows is the best program I've done at Ball State.  It's a great way to get real-life experience without an overwhelming time commitment. — Julia Sabatine, Business Fellow

When I first heard about the Business Fellows project "Profiting Nonprofits" in the spring of 2006 I knew it was the perfect program for me.  I worked with nine other students from various disciplines at both the undergraduate and graduate level.  We partnered with five local nonprofit organizations to write grant proposals to help them carry out their important missions.  I worked with AWAKEN, an organization led by Bibi Bahrami, a woman from Afghanistan who raises money to send to her home village to build schools, training centers for women, and a health clinic.  It was rewarding to work with Bibi to make a difference in the world, all the while learning valuable skills for my career.  Working with Dr. Barb Stedman, our faculty advisor, felt like a true partnership with the professor and students learning from each other. 

The professional training I received from Business Fellows involved the kind of programs that some professionals pay hundreds of dollars to attend.  I've used the information from the training many times, including at professional dinners, at networking receptions, and in my work in small groups in classes.  This semester, working with Smokefree Indiana, I am once again amazed by the Business Fellows program and all that I've gained from it.  I'm able to meet and work with interesting and active people in the community, learn from professional training, and gain experiences that will help me in the pursuit of my career.  I'm extremely grateful for the opportunities I've been given through Business Fellows and the people I've met and learned from along the way. — Jenny Shea, Business Fellow

The Ball State University Business Fellows program has provided me with organizational and leadership skills that will equip me to become a more well-rounded professional. I have since applied much of the information gained during the various professional development workshops. Excellent speakers were selected to present workshops. The time management and creative problem solving workshops were especially useful in this regard. The team-building exercise has notably improved my ability to relate to others in team situations and in general. The project has exposed me to complex, real-world problems, involving economic and social challenges facing real communities. The project provided me with the opportunity to apply both academic knowledge and creative thinking to problem solving. The project also allowed me to experience, first hand, the synergies associated with working in a multidisciplinary group. We were able to interact with the community leaders, which provided the opportunity to network and create value. Overall, I would say that the Business Fellows program is well organized and is an excellent experiential learning opportunity for any student. Tracey Parfitt Business Fellow 2006-2007

Business Fellows testimonials

My Business Fellows experience has given me an opportunity to take classroom knowledge and put it to work.  The theory and practices that we learned in class have now become real-life learning experiences. - Kerry Byrnes Business Fellow

The Business Fellows program is giving me the opportunity to network in the Muncie community and establish business contacts throughout Delaware County.  I am working with a great team and feel like our project will be very beneficial to the community once it is completed. - Jen Bowers Business Fellow