Kelley School Gives Daughter 'Tools to Attain Her

Paul and Diane Burch

Parents of Ann

Paul and Diane Burch have just two words for the Kelley School: “thank you.”

Their daughter, Ann, is a Kelley Scholar who has taken full advantage of all Indiana University has to offer. In summer 2008, she interned at Target Corporation as a business analyst. Earlier that spring, she lived with a Danish host family and attended the Danish Institute for Study Abroad through a Kelley international studies partnership program. Her parents are confident that when Ann graduates, she'll be more than ready for the world.

“When May 2009 arrives, Ann will have attained more than just a college degree in business,” say her parents. “She will have grown as a global, business professional, with the tools to attain her dreams, and the confidence that, through Kelley, she's already achieved more than we could possibly have imagined in a collegiate experience.”

Since coming to Kelley, Ann has immersed herself in college life, joining Kelley Student Government, Kelley Student Business Ambassadors, and taking on leadership positions in Delta Gamma sorority and the Kelley Honors Leadership Team. All the while, she has enjoyed the benefits of the large campus with its diverse students, classes, and majors.

Paul and Diane say they have many reasons to be happy with Ann's choice of business school—not the least of which is the fact that dad Paul, a commercial banker by trade, is also an adjunct professor at the Kelley School at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. “For the size of the student body, Ann has professors who know her by name, and she's not alone in this attribute,” say the Burches. “To us, this tutelage by world-class professors epitomizes the quality of the Kelley teaching staff.”

As a top student in her graduating class at Zionsville Community High School, Ann enjoys rigorous course work and even thrives on it. Kelley really is the right place for her, say her parents. “Ann's course work at the Kelley School has been intellectually stimulating, and equipped her with a foundation of critical thinking skills that she can apply in tackling real business challenges in the future.”

A great college experience is not just about high-quality teaching, say the Burches. A great location is important too—and Bloomington is it for Ann. “The city caters to a variety of interests, offering a world music festival, the state's largest inland lake, a collection of authentic international restaurants, and an array of cultural and performing arts centers—all set in the backdrop of Bloomington's classic limestone heritage and unequalled scenery,” say the Burches. “Through Ann's experiences we have seen that Bloomington is a great place to live and attend school, and for us it's a fun place to visit.”

In Brief

What three words would you use to describe the Kelley School?

“Action, passion, and hope. Kelley instills all three in its students, staff, and the communities it operates within.”

What has most impressed you about Kelley?

“The Kelley Advantage! In 2007, 90 percent of Kelley graduates had job offers. If a student commits, Kelley delivers. In today's value exchange, that's impressive. Ann's experiences in the internship search process really proved this to be true: the nationally ranked Undergraduate Career Services Office supports and provides opportunities for all Kelley students.”