College Announces First Cohort for the Kehoe Family Initiative for Entrepreneurial Excellence
HILLSDALE, Mich. — Hillsdale College announces the launch of the Kehoe Family Initiative for Entrepreneurial Excellence (KFIEE), a five-semester program for Hillsdale College students who aim to join the free market as entrepreneurs after they graduate. Students of all majors were invited to apply during the Fall 2022 semester.
“The Kehoe Family Initiative for Entrepreneurial Excellence is a rigorous fellowship that will prepare Hillsdale College students who want to start their own businesses after college to be unequivocally successful in those endeavors,” said Ken Koopmans, executive director of Career Services at Hillsdale College.
The initiative awards a $10,000 scholarship over the course of five semesters to each accepted student, regardless of his or her major.
The Kehoe Family Initiative includes two business courses, a variety of seminars and workshops, and the opportunity to hear from established entrepreneurs through the KFIEE Executive Speaker Series. Students also have access to The Experts’ Nexus, a group of alumni and other professionals who are experts in their fields and willing to connect with students; summer apprenticeships; and the opportunity to pitch their business ideas to a panel of entrepreneurs and other professionals.
“For over 175 years, the College has championed the idea that the free market is the best way for individuals to provide for their families and communities,” said Koopmans. “Many of our students enter the free market interested in entrepreneurship specifically, and we are thrilled to be able to provide such great support to these students.”
The LaunchPad Symposium took place on campus over Jan. 6-7. The symposium was an opportunity for the first cohort to meet, learn more about the program, and begin setting goals. Students participated in several activities and heard from speakers about leadership, living a well-ordered life, and developing a business plan.
The Kehoe Family Initiative was made possible by Kevin Kehoe, of Arizona, who started his consulting firm, Kehoe & Co., in 1993. Kehoe founded The Aspire Software Company in 2014 and in 2021, sold that company to Service Titan, where he retains a position as a consultant. Kehoe is a widely published business writer in his consulting niche and recently published his first autobiographical memoir, “One Hit Wonder: The Real-Life Adventures of an Average Guy and the Lessons He Learned Along the Way.”
Learn more about KFIEE here and about members of the first cohort here. View photos from the LaunchPad Symposium here.