Four Valparaiso University Seniors Named Orr Fellows

Hannah Forton ’21, Lillia Pogue ’21, Maggie Schaller ’21 and Kaitlyn Steinhiser ’21 have been named to the prestigious Orr Fellowship, recognizing them as future business leaders of Indianapolis.

Orr Fellowship is a prominent, two-year, post-graduate program combining a full-time position at an innovative, Indianapolis-based company with a curriculum focused on community involvement, professional development and leadership. With an acceptance rate of less than 6%, it is a hard-earned position.

“Obtaining an Orr Fellowship is a significant achievement and these women will have the ability to positively impact each of their placements and do excellent work in their future careers,” said Richard A. Gillman, D.A., interim provost. “The accomplishments of these four Valpo alumnae reflects on the preparation they received throughout their time as students.”

Forton, a native of Macomb, Michigan, will receive her bachelor’s in music industry and communication. She is a member of Lambda Pi Eta, the National Communication Association honor society; vice president of the Music Enterprise Student Association; productions director of Valparaiso University Television; member of the Chapel of the Resurrection Celebrate! worship band; member of Women’s Choir; vocalist in Jazz Combo and student-athlete on the women’s bowling team. Forton is a recipient of the Presidential Scholarship and an NCAA Athletic scholarship.

“I believe music is very powerful, and all of my experiences at Valpo have given me the opportunity to share music with others and help create lasting memories with friends and family,” Forton said. “I am excited to start working at Mandolin, a digital live-streaming platform designed to help artists, venues and fans connect through live music. I feel very honored to have been chosen by the company and to have the opportunity to work with innovators in the music industry.”

Pogue, a native of Southlake, Texas, will receive her bachelor’s in health care leadership, with minors in human biology and psychology. She is a member of Pi Beta Phi and Order of Omega and has served as overall director for Dance Marathon. Pogue is a recipient of the Presidential Scholarship and the Alumni Heritage Scholarship.

Leaders in the Valpo community influenced Pogue’s decision to pursue the Orr Fellowship.

“I am most excited to be immersed in a community of extremely driven and creative young professionals that are focused on growth and continued learning as an Orr Fellow, while also getting great work experience at Terraboost Media,” Pogue said. “I am extremely grateful for Lydia Spone ’19 and Carrie Whittier, associate dean of students at Valpo, for believing in me and inspiring me to go outside of my comfort zone as a member of the Valpo community and as a leader.”

Schaller, a native of Midland, Michigan, will receive her bachelor’s in marketing. She is a member of Pi Beta Phi, Order of Omega, the College of Business Dean’s Leadership Council and Beta Gamma Sigma Business Honor Society. She has served as head recruitment counselor of Panhellenic Council, president of GUARDS and public relations director for Dance Marathon. Schaller is a recipient of the transfer student scholarship, the Phi Theta Kappa scholarship and a scholarship from the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association.

“I have admiration for the entire College of Business faculty and staff — especially Professor Elizabeth Gingerich, for providing the most academic challenging and fulfilling experience during my first semester, and for Professor Musa Pinar, for supporting me throughout the Orr Fellowship application and recruitment process last year,” Schaller said. “Valpo wouldn’t be what it is without my friends, leaders, advisors and professors who have made this place my home for the last three years.”

Steinhiser, a native of Michigan City, Indiana, will receive her bachelor’s in political science and communication with a minor in Spanish. She has served as a freshman, sophomore and junior senator, chair of the Committee on Media, and student body president within Student Senate; resident assistant; and president of Valpo College Democrats. Steinhiser also participated in the Lutheran College Washington Semester as a research intern at the Brooking Institution and as a research associate in the Community Research and Service Center. She is a recipient of the Presidential Scholarship, Burger King McLamore Scholarship, Simon Foundation Scholarship, Pi Sigma Alpha McManus Scholarship, United States Steel Scholarship and Indiana Consortium of State and Local Human Rights Agencies Scholarship.

Steinhiser’s Valpo experience has furthered her passion for supporting her community.

“From bringing more trash cans to campus as a freshman senator to handling a global pandemic as student body president, my time in Student Senate has reinforced my value of public service and strengthened my love for the Valpo community,” Steinhiser says. “Both the Orr Fellowship and my role at KSM Consulting focus on Indiana’s talent retention and attraction strategies, so I’m eager to help further develop Indiana’s workforce.”

Forton, Pogue, Schaller and Steinhiser are among the nearly 1,300 qualified applicants of 2021 and are four of the 79 new Orr Fellows.