The Indiana-based Orr Fellowship program selected 74 college seniors that included 17 from Purdue University, 16 from Indiana and six apiece from Taylor University and Wabash College.
And one from Grand Canyon University.
Brecken Gutwein plans to recruit more Lopes to apply to the two-year, early career development program that connects qualified graduates with future-focused businesses in Indianapolis and Evansville.
“I'm hoping it feels like the start of something,” said Gutwein, who will graduate this spring from GCU with a bachelor’s degree in finance with an emphasis on financial planning. “I'm hoping that we can kind of filter a couple more students in there throughout the next few years, and that it just kind of opens the floodgates a little bit.”
Gutwein, a native of Indiana, grew up in West Lafayette but didn't go to Purdue, like his father was hoping. But even after being swayed by the comfortable Phoenix weather and a private affordable college education, Gutwein envisioned returning to Indiana once he earned his bachelor’s degree.
The fact that Gutwein knew about the Orr Fellowship program as a high school student provided a long-range goal. But local ties alone didn’t guarantee a fellowship, even though Steven Emch, a GCU alumnus and Gutwein’s high school mentor, became president of the Orr program.
“My grade point average was above 3.2, but the Orr Fellowship program looks at a lot more than just your grades,” Gutwein said. “They need you to be in leadership positions, trying to make a difference in the community.
“And Stephen told me, ‘Hey, just so you know, you’re not good enough right now. I would love for you to be in this program.’”
Emch worked for the Indiana Economic Development Corporation during Gutwein’s final years in high school, and (Emch) “was trying to teach me just how to grow up and how to be a man.”
Gutwein paid attention to companies whose finances were under consideration for COVID loans and the amount of aid earmarked for those approved.
“While I certainly think he (Gutwein) is special and incredibly talented, I also am not in the business of putting in ceilings on anybody's capabilities or capacity,” Emch said. “I often tell people, ‘Hey, here's what it looks like to get into Orr Fellowship.’"
The Orr Fellowship program reviewed about 1,200 applications last fall, meaning Gutwein was among the 6% who were accepted. This marked the first time the Orr program included graduates from Clemson, Capital and GCU.
Another benefit to the program is that fellowship graduates have an expedited pathway into Indiana University’s Kelley Evening MBA program, ranked 13th in the country.
“You've got to be pretty top-tier to make it into that,” Emch said of Gutwein’s acceptance into the Orr program. “It's not me being manipulative or any type of thing. It's just like, ‘Hey, this is what it takes.’ And some people respond to it, and some don't.
“I think he (Gutwein) has a ton of potential. He's a natural leader, and I've seen that really developing in him, I'd say, over the last couple years.”
After a quiet freshman year at GCU, Gutwein joined the Financial Planning Association, got involved with the Student Managed Investment Fund, started serving at his church and joined a few outreach programs.
Gutwein isn’t coasting in his final year at GCU. He enrolled in three classes (two cohorts), serves as president of the Financial Planning Association and runs the bond fund for the Student Managed Investment Fund with a friend.
“But first I learned how much I loved being involved in those communities, those groups,” Gutwein said. “That was obviously the big learning experience. I also learned I could do things I set my mind to, and it wasn't like an unattainable, like, ‘Oh, you have to be a really disciplined human being to do that.’ I just actually had to follow the steps I set for myself and set goals.”
Gutwein is scheduled to work with a small financial planning group based in Indianapolis that works with WestPoint Financial Group, one of the more prominent firms in the Midwest.
“When I was a kid, I was always super passionate about finance,” Gutwein said. “I started this little candy machine business. I went around the stores and asked them if I could put my candy machines in their stores. I got them in eight to 10 places. I had my dad driving around and get the money every weekend.”
His interest shifted to stocks and bonds and trading at 16, with his father serving as the head of the account.
“And then when I came to GCU, obviously the main focus is you want to do well for yourself, and you want to make an impact for your family and on as many people as possible,” Gutwein said. “That's always been GCU’s thing, and I really appreciate that. I feel like I've really gotten inundated with that belief since I've been here, and so I wanted to see how financial-like services could be most impactful on other people.”
That commitment satiates Emch, who encouraged Gutwein and other applicants about taking leadership roles.
“You've got to stand out against those people,” Emch said. “Like, ‘What are you going to do? What’s your thing?’ And he found it. I feel like the Finance Club has been a great spot for him.”
Through internships and watching financial planners, Gutwein feels better about helping people gain more clarity about their finances with the option to follow other routes.
Coincidentally, Isabella Gutwein is taking a different path than her older brother.
“She’s here (at GCU) trying to go to law school at Arizona State,” Brecken said. “It’s not the first choice for some (pre) law school students. But she loved it so much here (on her visit) that she decided to come here.”
Meanwhile, Brecken Gutwein believes recruiting more GCU students would help the Orr Fellowship program as well as the university.
“Getting them to move to Indiana is the hard part. That's the hardest thing on the table. I think the opportunity is amazing. I think convincing people that the move is worth it is obviously always going to be a toughie, but I think there's real potential in GCU.”
GCU News senior writer Mark Gonzales can be reached at [email protected]
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