Ashley Hennessey, a junior from Fort Wayne, Indiana, majors in secondary social studies education in the School of Education.
Crimson Catalyst: How did you learn about the Shoemaker Scholars program?
Ashley Hennessey: My older brother, Andrew, was a Shoemaker scholar. I learned about the group when he helped them branch into the School of Education.
CC: What impact do Shoemaker scholars have?
AH: We help connect students to resources on campus that they might not know about, while also encouraging people from any discipline to tap into their entrepreneurial mind.
CC: What is a common misconception students have about entrepreneurship and innovation?
AH: A common misconception is that you have to be a Kelley or Luddy student to pursue entrepreneurship. In actuality, anyone with a creative idea can utilize the Shoemaker scholars to make an impact on their surroundings.
CC: How do you share insights with others, as an ambassador?
AH: I encourage people with any sort of idea, big or small, to connect with us and see how they can put their idea into action using the resources available to them on campus.
CC: What are your own entrepreneurial endeavors?
AH: I have developed programs in high schools that help integrate new students into the school environment and community. I am also working on an affordable tutoring service for elementary-, middle- and high-schoolers, with college students as the tutors.
CC:What do you enjoy most about being a Shoemaker scholar?
AH: I'm not what people might expect when they talk about entrepreneurs, so I enjoy that the Shoemaker Scholars program sees the value in diverse minds and skill sets.
This profile originally appeared on IU’s Crimson Catalyst blog.