When Logan Clark, BS’23, was planning for his future after high school, he knew he wanted to build upon the success of his photography business at a university that cultivates in innovation, creativity and new ideas, and a thriving entrepreneurship energy. After a visit to downtown Indianapolis, he knew the Undergraduate Program at the Kelley School of Business at IUPUI was the best choice for him to achieve his goals.

“When I was deciding between colleges, I narrowed down my list, and the deciding factor was coming to the IU Indianapolis campus and feeling how much it interacted with the city. I knew there would be an abundance of opportunities,” he said. “We’re so close to everything that’s going on. For example, I could have walked from my apartment to my internship a couple summers ago. Being close to all the opportunities this campus provides made the most sense to me.”

It was Logan’s roommate from his hometown who first told him about an informational session about the Kelley Indianapolis Honors Program. The application process asks candidates to submit a resume and video outlining why they would make a great program candidate.

Since the application process allowed for personal creativity, Logan knew he had to apply. As an honors student during in high school, he knew the benefits of joining a motivated network of students.

Logan outlined how while it may not be obvious whether you’re an honor student when you meet someone, people tend to react a bit differently when they find out. “There is prestige associated with the program, and I thought it would be beneficial for my future.”

He was particularly impressed with the quality of the Kelley faculty, who have not only challenged him to think differently but also expressed interest in his success and looked for ways to help connect them to future opportunities. When he wanted to find a quality internship in the logistics industry, his professors were approachable and offered specific recommendations on which companies to pursue.

“Being an honor student, I feel like I’m not only super connected to the curriculum but also to the faculty’s industry experience. The connection to the industry as an honor student, I feel, is stronger than maybe as a non-Honors undergrad student.”

As he advanced through his course work, he continued to be impressed with the high caliber of professors.

“Seeing the amount of industry experience that all our faculty members have, being a professor is like the second act of their careers. The faculty did the grind, achieved a great deal, and then became a professor to share as much of that knowledge as possible.”

A senior majoring in finance, marketing, and supply chain, Logan is a teacher’s assistant for X100/105, introduction to businesses course. He’s also the president of the Kelley Indianapolis Student Government and owns two small businesses, Inside the Frame photography and Thynk Creative, a digital marketing company.

The opportunities, resources, and guidance the Kelley School provides have allowed Logan to grow both businesses as he applies many classroom exercises into his work and formalizing his business plans.

“In my first semester in 2019, after learning about a SWOT analysis, I got home from that class and conducted a SWOT analysis on my business. Then, as I moved through some of my marketing classes, I conducted a customer survey of all my customers, and I learned so much. I was able to make immediate changes in my business based on my classes. There’s no delay:  I’ve been applying my education since the very first week of semester one.”

After graduation, Logan plans to continue to grow both creative businesses with the possibility of pursuing a MBA, law degree or becoming a professor himself.