Hillsdale College Announces Third Cohort of Fellows for Kehoe Family Initiative for Entrepreneurial Excellence
HILLSDALE, Mich. — Hillsdale College announces the new cohort of student fellows for the Kehoe Family Initiative for Entrepreneurial Excellence. The fellowship is a five-semester program for Hillsdale College students who aim to join the free market as entrepreneurs after graduation. Sophomores of all majors were invited to apply during the fall 2023 semester.
Members of the new cohort include:
• Isaac Estabrook of Mount Vernon, SD — economics major
• Analise Hess of San Diego, CA — marketing major
• Gavin Hubner of Grand Haven, MI — financial management major
• Bernadette Novacek of Delafield, WI — history major and minors in art and business
• Nathan Rastovac of Wadsworth, IL — economics major
• Emma Wiermann of Long Island, NY — rhetoric and media major and minor in German
“The Kehoe Family Initiative for Entrepreneurial Excellence Fellowship is a rigorous program designed to provide students who are interested in starting their own business with invaluable experiences and resources,” said Ken Koopmans, executive director of Career Services at Hillsdale College.
The Kehoe Family Initiative program includes two business courses, seminars and workshops, and the opportunity to hear from established entrepreneurs through the 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. The initiative awards a $10,000 scholarship over the course of five semesters to each accepted student.
The initiative started with Kevin Kehoe, an entrepreneur who owned a consulting firm and founded a software company. With a generous gift to Hillsdale College, Kehoe started the Kehoe Family Initiative for Entrepreneurial Excellence, which welcomed its first class in 2021. Kehoe passed away in 2022, but the program remains a testament to his life.
For headshots of the students, click here.