- Building Indiana’s Next Generation of Innovators: First Collegiate Entrepreneurs Summit
On Friday, February 27, more than 250 students from 17 universities arrived at the 16 Tech Innovation District in Indianapolis for the inaugural Collegiate Entrepreneurs Summit, a statewide gathering created to bring student innovators together, spark new collaborations, and strengthen Indiana’s entrepreneurial network.
The summit was more than an event – it was the result of a multi-organization planning committee led by Butler University’s Lacy School of Business, 16 Tech, CICP, and INtercollegiate Entrepreneurs. For months, these four groups worked together to design a student-centered experience that could bring Indiana’s entrepreneurial community closer and create a truly statewide ecosystem.
What began as a simple idea among a small group of campus leaders grew into one of the largest student entrepreneurship events the state has hosted, marking a significant milestone for both Indiana’s innovation community and for LSB, which served as a co‑host, challenge partner, and event sponsor.
- From Student to Strategist to Professor: Sara Omohundro ’16 Comes Full Circle at LSB
A decade after graduating from the Lacy School of Business, Sara Omohundro ’16 walks back into the same classrooms where she once sat as a student – only this time, she’s the one at the front of the room.
An accomplished investor, nonprofit leader, and mentor, Sara has returned to Butler University as an adjunct professor to teach Alternative Investments. For her, it’s more than a professional milestone; it’s a full-circle moment rooted in gratitude, growth, and a desire to open doors for the next generation.
- Finding Community in the Marketplace: Dr. Meredith Rhoads’ Journey into Marketing Research
Marketing began long before Dr. Meredith Rhoads ever declared it as a major – it began in her father’s small furniture store in West Frankfort, Illinois. As a child, she watched her dad build relationships, serve his community, and make decisions that affected real families.
“I had this front-row seat to what it means to run a business in a close-knit place,” the assistant professor of marketing recalled. “I didn’t know it then, but that shaped everything about how I view marketing.”
Drawn to both creativity and strategy, she pursued an undergraduate marketing degree at Southern Illinois University Carbondale and quickly fell in love with it. But her understanding of the field expanded dramatically during her MBA program, when she began working with faculty on a research project examining older consumers and their interactions with service providers.
- AI Ethicality: How Two Butler University Students Used Predictive Analytics to Help Reduce Misinformation in the Classroom
Written by Brad SeehausenMarketing and Communications Intern, Lacy School of Business ’26 After being named Regional Champions, Lacy School of Business students Jack Maier and Mariah Richardson advanced to the national Data4Good Competition at Johns Hopkins University, showcasing their predictive models on AI use in the classroom to a panel of expert judges. Competing against…
Read more: AI Ethicality: How Two Butler University Students Used Predictive Analytics to Help Reduce Misinformation in the Classroom
- Building Momentum: Butler Welcomes 150+ Students for Indiana’s First Collegiate DECA State Conference
Last Saturday, Butler University’s Lacy School of Business welcomed more than 150 students from eight states and 15 college campuses for the inaugural Indiana Collegiate DECA State Career Development Conference. The event represented the culmination of four years of planning, organizing, and building an association from the ground up – making this first-ever statewide conference a significant milestone for both Indiana Collegiate DECA and for Butler, which served as host.
The day-long conference brought students to campus for an immersive experience in professional development, competitive case events, and statewide networking. As attendees moved between sessions, they explored many of Butler’s signature spaces – from the Collegiate Gothic architecture of Jordan Hall to the history of Hinkle Fieldhouse to the quiet pathways of Holcomb Gardens. It was a fitting backdrop for a day centered on curiosity, problem-solving, and collaborative leadership.
- More than a Degree: How Butler’s First-Generation Students Overcome the Odds to Find Success
Pursuing a higher education is no easy task. Intense workloads, late-night studying, and balancing a tight schedule require an immense amount of skill and discipline. For first-generation college students, one could add “graduating on time” and “figuring out how to apply for financial aid” to that list among many others. Despite the added challenges, these first-generation students at Butler University have defied the odds to find success in the Lacy School of Business.
- Trusting the Detours: Lindsey Brooks ’24 and Her Path to Operations Leadership
When you meet Lindsey Brooks, you immediately sense someone who is both grounded and in motion – a person who thrives by doing, learning, stretching, and stepping into whatever the moment demands.
Lindsey graduated with a degree in Entrepreneurship and Innovation from the Lacy School of Business in May 2023, and today, she’s the Operations Associate at King Lou Pets, a fast-growing, real-life-inspired pet nutrition company that makes super treats for dogs and cats. The Butler alum oversees warehouse flow, fulfillment, inventory, packaging, and anything else that keeps a young, nimble business running.
- Excel-ling! Seth Raymond’s Unexpected Journey to the Microsoft Excel National Championship
Becoming the state champion of anything doesn’t just fall into someone’s lap – but for Seth Raymond, becoming the Indiana State Champion in Microsoft Excel wasn’t the goal. Instead, it
was the byproduct of hours of hard work spent watching tutorials and taking practice exams in pursuit of his Excel certification. As a result, Seth ended up getting slightly more than he bargained for.
