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Jawed ’17 ‘Final Pills, Final Thoughts’

Posted in Global Health

Bilal Jawed ’17 – When I woke up that very first morning in Uganda, I had 87 pills of doxycycline packed away for malaria prophylaxis –one for each day in Uganda. It’s been a pure, raw, and emotional journey watching those pills disappear, day by day, pill by pill. As I swallow #87 today, I would be lying if I said I was the same person at #1. Each pill has its own taste, some sweet, others sour. It’s difficult not to reflect while holding an empty prescription bottle for the first time. A few come to mind. #2: my first day on the ward. Words and pictures will never represent the suffering and sadness adequately. #15: discovering that Mulago has a private ward for paying patients. I remember the frustration of learning how much of a difference a few dollars a day can make. #30: visiting the ward after dark to finish up some work from the day. I will never forget the overwhelming experience of swarms of people coming up to me, requesting medication and medical attention. Sick people remain sick even when the doctors go home. #73: sitting down to discuss a patient only to realize that there is almost nothing we could do to treat his disease (at the time he was thought to have a condition called ICL).

Spending a holiday in the home of a good friend.

Spending a holiday in the home of a good friend.

While it is so very easy to reflect on the bad, discuss the bad, and even blog about the bad, the bad will not be what I take away from Uganda and will certainly not be what I will remember in the years to come. I will remember the people. I will remember the doctors who don’t bat an eye when work and life begin to blend. I will remember the nurse, who despite being pulled out of retirement may be one of the hardest working people I know. I will remember the lab phlebotomist who spends his day running back and forth from lab to lab to give the most up to date results, and possibly save a life. I will remember the HIV counselor who fearlessly combats years of dense misconceptions and stigma day after day without falter. I will remember the friendly Ugandans –I never once regretted starting a conversation with a stranger.

I’ll end by being honest. I am not sure how the average American can help the sick people of Uganda or if they even need our help in the first place. The issues there are infinitely more complex than just sickness. Ellen Einterz summarizes it best, “It is probably possible to fill a well by pouring water from above, but better in the long run to dig deeper and let water rise from below.” Education, stronger structures, cheaper drugs, and sanitation will always be the answers. While Africa and Uganda may be a long plane ride away (I can attest to this), we as Americans in a shrinking world are not so far away. While the majority of the world will never see the poverty in those wards first hand, the poverty is certainly there and it is very close to us. This experience has absolutely shrunk my view of the world. It has distorted and altered my view of what health is, and what it means to be a health care provider. For the rest of my life, I will always carry a slight tinge of responsibility to share the stories found in Uganda –to serve as a reminder to the other 99% of the world that will never see a Ugandan ward.

Finally, no story is complete without its thank-yous. I would like to extend an extremely deep thank you to Dr. David Boulware for opening up his project and world to me. I am always astounded by all of his work. I would also like to thank Dr. Wetzel, Mrs. Rogers, and the Global Health Initiative for making this all possible. Lastly, I would like to thank Dr. Rhein, Ms. Williams, and the entire ASTRO team for being so welcoming to their work, their lives, and for some, their country.


Brenden King ’16 IURTC

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The eight weeks spent as an intern at the Indiana University, and Research and Technology Corporation has been essential to my education as a student and my general knowledge of business development. Over the course of the internship, I was able to work as a part of the team that makes up a section of the IURTC known as Spin Up. Working directly with the head of Spin Up, Joe Trebly, we worked to build startup companies around inventions developed at Indiana University. Over the course of the experience, I learned about the commercialization process, venture capital, marketing, and intellectual property.

My primary project was to write a business plan for Grace Corporation, one of Spin Up’s startup companies. Grace Co. is a geriatric health care provider that aims to reduce hospital readmissions through their Grace Co. team model. Since their conception, Grace Co. has enjoyed great success and is being to be implement not only at IU Health but multiple hospitals in both Indiana and nationwide. One of the barriers that I had to overcome while writing the business plan for Grace, and in general the entire summer, was adapting to the different industries that Spin Up works with and being comfortable not having a significant background in that field. It was in this barrier when I began to appreciate truly my Liberal Arts education at Wabash.

Another project that I worked on was getting everything for the Innovation Showcase. A showcase is an entrepreneurial event in Indianapolis where roughly 75 companies pitch to prospective investors. Spin Up sent five companies to the event. One of which, Anagin, a company that is working towards growing inner ear cells placed in the top 5 companies. My job was to update all of their propaganda, specifically their executive summaries. The project gave some experience in both marketing and project management.

Aside from the two project I spent a great deal of time meeting with venture capital groups and CEOs of Spin Up companies. Watching Joe and the founders of the companies working with big VCs like SV Life Sciences provided me with hands-on experience that I would not have gained in the classroom. We are truly fortunate for the opportunities that both Wabash and the Lilly Endowment provide to Indiana.


Brent Tomb ’16 Learning the Ropes at FairWinds

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IMG_1598_1Summer was especially busy at FairWinds Advisors, and as the first intern from Wabash, I felt the need to make a big impact.

FairWinds is a company that can provide companies with site selection services, incentive negotiation, and the required compliance. They take a very personalized approach with each client, which sets them apart. When I started my internship, Economic Development was a relatively new concept to me. I understood what I thought it meant and what I thought I might be doing, but I quickly received a crash course on exactly what FairWinds can provide a client from Jenny Massey, the co-owner, COO and President.

One of the first things I learned was that the life of a consultant can be difficult at times. When acting as the middleman, you are the one who is held accountable for problems that arise, regardless if they are your fault or not. This means that being ahead of the ball is extremely important so that everyone is happy. Because FairWinds has had such a busy year, I was able to help put a fresh spin on some documents that were used to keep the steps in the process in order.

Jenny took me with her to all of her meetings so that I could see how a project works at every stage. This meant that I was included in meetings with potential clients and meetings with current clients that were near the end of their project. It was eye opening to see not only the different types of meetings but the huge range of companies that FairWinds can assist. Some companies is start-ups with no employees while others are huge companies that are expanding with a new location or in a new state. Each company comes with completely different needs and problems. For those reasons, it was very important to be well prepared with knowledge about all possible incentives. I was able to learn a lot from listening to these meetings, often learning along with the clients.

I was also involved in helping with a few projects that Jenny and her partner, Jay, are undertaking to better the company. One of those is a new website. I had the opportunity to sit in on a creative session and have been able to help with some creative ideas for the new site that is being built. It has been a fun challenge to help create a product that is engaging and informative without being overwhelming, especially considering I had no experience with web design.

Overall, my experience at FairWinds has been extremely educational and valuable. I was able to learn about real world business by working with the large variety of clients. Being a part of the FairWinds’ team provided an in-depth understanding of some of the advantages and challenges that small businesses face. I would like to thank the Lilly Endowment for making this internship possible, FairWinds Advisors for the opportunity and Wabash College for organizing the experience.


Tyler Munjas ’16 Engaging South Bend

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IMG_0077Throughout the course of this summer I’ve had the opportunity to intern with Trek10, a startup whose main facet involves consulting with companies who use Amazon Web Services (AWS); a cloud computing service that allows for massive data storage, real-time data analytics, app and website building, and a multitude of other features. When I first accepted this position, I was hesitant about two things. The first being that I had no experience with AWS, let alone any other cloud computing software. The pre-job training was intense, and a lot of new terminology and concepts were thrown my way. However, I was lucky enough to be working with some of the best and brightest in the field, as well as two of my good friends and fraternity brothers, Sam and Ashton, who were eager to make sure I knew what I was doing.

The second point of hesitation was that in 2011 South Bend was cited by Newsweek as one of the top 10 dying cities in the U.S. Why would I want to spend my summer somewhere like that? Well, this source of uncertainty is actually what enthralled me in my decision to take the position. I spoke with Roland Morin ’91 as he explained the revitalization efforts that companies like Trek10, Union Station, and Enfocus, just to name a few, were attempting to help South Bend.
During my first week, I noticed many things that might indicate a “dying” city; poor roads, abandoned buildings (one of which being the old Studebaker factory, whose economic aftermath after closing some 40 years ago is still felt to this day), and a homeless population. However, I also experienced first-hand these immense revitalization efforts which simply hearing about does no justice. Union Station, a former train station turned data hub and professional office building where Trek10 is located, has plans in the immediate future to renovate 800,000 square feet of the abandoned Studebaker factory in order to move its business there. Included in the new Union Station are classrooms, a workout facility, an auditorium, and a ton of new space for more tech-heavy companies, like Trek10, to call home. The hope behind moving to a larger facility is to attract ultimately, businesses with well-educated employees and higher paying jobs to kick-start the economy.
Also, South Bend initiated something that I had not experienced during past internships in different cities/counties; an intern “connect” program. With upwards of 80 interns in the South Bend/St. Joseph County area (of which about 10 were Wabash men), the County hosted and helped organize numerous events for us. We went to a Cubs game, a country concert, white water rafting, helped at a local food bank, and participated in networking events as part of the Young Professionals Network. Additionally, the program brought in a weekly speaker which included Trek10’s CEO and founder, Andy Warzon, as well as the well-received Mayor of South Bend, Pete Buttigieg. This may have been one of my favorite events the program put on, as we heard talks and engaged in discussions about personal branding, methods for assessing businesses, how to go about bootstrapping your own business, and the countless initiatives, efforts, and programs that the city is tackling in order to bring life back to South Bend. Having such a well-rounded program that kept me engaged outside of work hours helped me truly see South Bend for what it is. I no longer see it as a dying city, as that implies South Bend is headed in a direction worse than its current state. Rather, I view South Bend as a growing city, easily observed through its efforts and successes in bringing and retaining talent from schools such as Notre Dame, Yale, and of course, Wabash. Additionally, there’s an atmosphere of optimism as its citizens all rally around and support their Mayor, placing their trust in a local government who’s already proven its capability in helping South Bend. I’ve never experienced such a high overall level of confidence from a community. Just about every person I talked to felt hopeful for the future of South Bend, given its recently bleak past. And to me, having the entire community believe in the future of the city is the most crucial aspect of growth.
In closing, I’d like to thank the Eli Lilly Endowment for funding opportunities as beneficial as the one I experienced this summer. Not only did I gain knowledge of cloud computing software and an insight into the hi-tech world unavailable in the classroom, but I was also able to be part of something bigger than myself. It felt incredible to know that by taking part in these intern connect events I was making a difference in South Bend. Though I’m not from the area, I plan on returning and continuously checking up on its progress as I feel like the part of the community after my eight weeks there. If the goal of the Endowment is to invest in Indiana, it’s doing a fantastic job by sending interns to places like South Bend and other Indiana communities where Wabash men can make a difference.


Chris Stazinski ’16 Co-Working & Entrepreneurship in South Bend

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StazinskiBefore we get started, I want to thank the Lilly Endowment, Inc. for providing funding my internship experience this summer and for many other Wabash men. Without that funding, such an opportunity would be lost for many of us. Talking to students from other colleges I have realized how lucky we are to have an organization like that on our side.
My experience at Union Station Technology Center (USTC) in South Bend this summer was nothing short of unique. USTC is the largest data center in Indiana and a top 40 carrier hotel in the nation, and the primary model of Infrastructure as a Service allows the company to provide storage and high-speed connectivity for businesses ranging in size from small and local to large and national. The goal this summer for myself and my coworker, Kevin Yan ’15, and was to design a co-working studio – the Depot – within the Union Station building, and then market and recruit people to work inside of it. The Depot is to be a hub of collaboration and mutual development among freelancers, independent consultants, and entrepreneurs.
In doing research on other successful co-working studios, we were lucky enough to be welcomed into MatchBOX in Lafayette and Launch Fishers in Fishers. It was a great opportunity to network with others with a similar goal and ask questions about how they became successful. In developing the Depot, we had to utilize our liberal arts education because the tasks varied greatly. Among other things, a few of our tasks were designing the layout of the space, creating the logo for the Depot, and building and managing the website. We also created various documents such as the membership agreement and the terms of use. We were also constantly reaching out to others in the community and planning events for the Depot to gather members.
I learned a few lessons from this internship. The first and foremost lesson is the importance of having a plan and set goals. A couple times we started on a task and then lost our way. When that happened, we had to restart and tweak our approach, but it was something that could have been avoided by having several smaller benchmark goals. Another lesson that was emphasized this summer is to manage your network and utilize the connections you have. It has also stressed to me the importance of being a reliable contact myself, because how can you expect others to help you if you are not willing to help them. In all, it was a very educational internship that taught me much about entrepreneurship and will help guide my endeavors after college. Once again, thank you to Wabash and the Lilly Endowment for making this possible.


Jonathan Alcala ’18 Practice Makes Perfect at CTS

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This summer, I had my professional head start through the Small Business Internship Fund organized by the Schroeder Center for Career Development , something I did not expect as a freshman. Although we were acquainted within the first few weeks of my freshman year, I never expected to have my first professional experience under the tutelage of Erik Ness, ‘94. Arriving at the Commodity Transportation Services office, I believed I was prepared for whatever the summer could throw at me. However, this was far from the truth. Not only was I expected to perform at the level of my peers, some whom were returning for their second summer with Erik Ness such as Derek Andre ‘16, but also to learn as much as I could about the industry.

Throughout my first few days, a feeling of nervousness and excitement was persistent, but after a week of work there was no time for insecurity or lack of confidence. I not only was expected to handle paperwork and analyze several carrier agreements, but I also had the opportunity to negotiate deals alongside Wabash alumni. The CTS office provided a perfect balance in many aspects, which helped maximize my contribution. Throughout the busy days of work, I felt a demanding office environment while also feeling comfortable to ask for help whenever needed. At times, a fellow broker and friend, Alan Ortiz ’17, and I found ourselves trying to find the right words to explain our internship experience, and although we enjoyed different qualities of our job, we both recognize the great learning experience that it was.

As time progressed, I felt the responsibility and duties increase dramatically, but, to my advantage I had been well prepared by that same team that demanded more of me. By the time my internship approached its last few weeks, I had gained confidence in my work, and this quality was a must. My very first call at CTS was far from successful, but after the hundreds of daily calls I had to make, I learned that practice does make perfection. The confidence I had gained communicating carried over with me whenever ideas and reports had to be presented. I had developed my skills so greatly that I will continue to work for CTS on campus. I am excited to see what the continuation of this experience will bring to my professional development.

I am extremely grateful for the opportunity Commodity Transportation Services for the opportunity I have been given, and of course to Erik Ness ‘94 who has been a great mentor. I would like to also thank the Small Business Internship Fund and Career Services office, as none of this would be possible without their help and willingness to invest in our professional development.


Brian Parks ’17 A True YoungLife Leader

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On The job photo6 Essential Things that Consist of Being a YoungLife Leader
First off, I just want to thank the Lilly Endowment for giving me this once in a lifetime opportunity of being able to intern for YoungLife. This was the incredible experience and one I will never forget.

Alternate Fundraisers
YoungLife is a non-profit organization so for it to exist funds must be raised. I found three ways to raise funds for YoungLife at Tech. The three were Restaurants, Activities, and Do-It-Yourself fundraisers. I created many proposals for YoungLife for Tech to follow through if they wanted to do a certain fundraiser within those categories.

Alumni Relations
YoungLife Tech has many alumni who are off into the world and doing their own thing, so it’s very important to stay in contact with all the individuals as much as possible. Sam and I created a spreadsheet with all of the former YoungLife affiliates, and we had about 150 total. We also plan to have an alumni reunion between August 1-12.

Job-Shadowing
Being able to job-shadow Christians was perhaps the best experience I encountered throughout the internship. I was able to shadow four wonderful people and experience a day with them at their organizations. I met with Jessica who works with MATS, which is a Missionary Auto Dealership. Tyler Sadek is a financial manager for TEAYS Investments, which invest in farms around the world. Phil Edwards is an assistant pastor at SOMA church; his job is to connect the neighborhood to the church. Lastly, Jack Nikcevich is a regional director for YoungLife, who oversees all YoungLife sites in Indiana and Kentucky.
Public Relations
During the internship, I sat in on a lot of meetings and gatherings with my supervisor. I was able to share my experience in YoungLife to about 50 people. I also talk to donors who support YoungLife about how YoungLife has changed my life and how it has directed to where I am today. I also attended a gathering of urban pastors around Indianapolis, who talk about how all churches must come together to change the community.

Video Project
Tanner Halbeigh and I are in the process of creating a testimonial video to show that the investments and generous donations of our donors are changing kids’ lives every day. We shot footage of B-roll, which consisted of my childhood home, sporting events, community, and much more. This will be a collaboration with myself and Jayion’s (current YoungLife member) testimonies.

Student Relations
I went to the school lunches about 2 to 3 times a week signing kids up for camp and sharing to them about myself. I attended clubs and Bible studies weekly throughout my internship that occurred on Mondays and Fridays. I shared the experience of being a Christian and going to college in front of 30 kids. Nearly every Saturday we would have work days that kids would attend to raise their funds to go camping and I attended nearly all of them. Work days consisted of anything from building a patio to cutting grass.


Clayton Randolph ’16 Angie’s To Do List

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IMG_1349Starting a new job can be a nerving experience. There’s new people, a new role, and more responsibility. But, that is also what makes a new job fun and exciting. An internship is a chance to introduce you to a role that may interest you upon graduating college. My internship at Angie’s List has been nothing short of eye-opening. I didn’t know what to expect when I first started. I had heard from others how great of a company Angie’s List was, so I was eager to see if that held true once I arrived. And, it has. Angie’s List takes great pride in their interns—there are over 30 of us here this summer—and goes to great lengths to make us feel part of the company. Interns are given daily tasks, and some take on various projects with supervisors over our time here. Personally, I’ve worked on retrieving and organizing data—using SQL (Structured Query Language)—to be given to our Call Center and Concierge teams allowing them to make phone calls to potential and existing customers. The majority of my work here, though, has revolved around a new product called SnapFix, which debuted in 2014. In short, you can upload a picture of a project you want to be completed through Angie’s List app, and we will match you will the highest rated service provider in the area. I performed an analysis of SnapFix, put it in a presentation format—and after many meetings to get it just right—delivered it to several Directors and Managers for review. I presented my findings in a presentation, detailing the reasoning behind some of the suggestions. I was amazed at the opportunity. How many times do interns get to interact with upper management on projects? I was excited I got to take part in such a project, and I can’t wait to see where it goes. Who knows, maybe in 6 months, I’ll end up seeing my ideas being used.

The company has provided many fun activities for the interns here as well. We had a day at the Children’s Museum, an upcoming social media workshop, mock interviews and resume help. Did I mention there is a 24-hour softball tournament the entire company takes part in? It’s why Angie’s List has a sparkling reputation with its employees, and one of the reasons it’s a top company to work for in Indiana and the country. One of the other opportunities presented to interns is a chance to shadow different departments. This can happen up to two times. I recently shadowed the Corporate Communications team and Marketing team—and boy was it informative. I was able to talk to the Director of Communications, Media Relations Manager, Executive Writer, Content Marketing and Promotions Manager, and finally the Vice President of Corporate Communications. After the communications team, I shadowed Laura Crafton in the Marketing Department. She was incredibly knowledgeable about how to best market and brand your business, and I was able to learn a lot just in the few hours we were together.
We’ve also met many executives during our time here. That list includes interim Chief Executive Officer Mark Howell (He actually gave every intern an interesting book about how to act in the workplace when you’re just starting your career), Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer Angie Hicks (she is the face of the company, and the person it is named after…and a DePauw graduate). I have also met with the Executive Vice President of Sales Insight and Optimization personally and learned about his job, how he used his education, and how he manages and leads the people underneath them. For me, all valuable information I plan to use as soon as possible once I get back to school and in future jobs.

None of this would be possible without the gracious help of the Lilly Endowment, as well as Wabash. I continue to tell others how Wabash provides opportunities that few others get a chance to experience. My supervisor, JP Patterson, is a Wabash graduate—class of 08—and has made me feel a part of the company since the beginning. He has allowed me to sit in on meetings and been very resourceful when I have questions about how the business operates. He has given me multiple opportunities for growth and development—for that, and I’m thankful. This internship has been a fantastic opportunity to learn about corporate business—and it has prepared me for a job after school, whether that is at Angie’s List or elsewhere.


Tyler Regnier ’16 Challenges in Inventory and Product Development

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Tyler Internship BlogTest Gauge & Backflow Supply Indianapolis fills quite a unique niche in the Indianapolis market. The company, which was founded in 2011 by James Probst, supplies backflow prevention devices, backflow repair parts, and backflow test gauges. Additionally, the company runs a week-long course several times a year, which educates and certifies plumbers to test properly backflow devices. Prior to the start of the internship, I had very limited knowledge of backflow devices, but I soon learned that a backflow prevention device prevents contaminated waste water from flowing into clean domestic water lines. Working for Test Gauge & Backflow Supply has broadened my business horizons, and given me experience in inventory management, product line development, and the diverse components of a small business.
As Product Development Intern, I have helped create and promote Test Gauge & Backflow Supply’s water quality product line, working closely with the company’s new water quality specialist, Larry Owen. With 30 years of experience in the world of industrial water softeners and reverse osmosis systems, Larry was asked to join the company to head the water quality line. I was given the task of marketing the product. Working with others in the company, I was able to devise a product development plan including market research, pricing, product selection, print and online marketing materials, and a detailed set of goals to guide the development of our new product line.
Being my first in-depth experience working for a company that provides a tangible product, developing the water quality product line has certainly been a learning experience. Some aspects of the product development plan were fairly self-explanatory, such as pricing and product selection. Others, such as creating professional print marketing materials and performing market research, were much more challenging. I conducted online research, read product catalogues, and had numerous discussions with James and Larry, all to gain a better understanding of the industry and properly identify the best potential suppliers and customers. I then compiled a list of potential customers using various online resources such as NAISC codes and websites of plumbing and mechanical engineering associations, which we then used as our starting target market.

In addition to developing the water quality line, I have assisted the company as they improve their inventory management processes. Working for a retailer has opened my eyes to how inventory can so strongly impact cash flow. Turning profits as a retailer is not simply about making sales. Profits are strongly impacted by the amount of inventory kept on the shelves, the amount of time that inventory sits, the method in which the inventory is purchased, and multiple other factors. Currently, I am analyzing how customers receive their product, either by will call, shipment from our warehouse, or shipment directly from our supplier’s warehouse. With this information, we can adjust our inventory to meet the needs of our customer without purchasing excess inventory.
In addition to my newly acquired knowledge of inventory management, my position with Test Gauge & Backflow Supply has allowed me to improve my professional skills. Working closely with Larry and James has greatly improved my teamwork skills. Each of us has had specific roles in creating the new product line and depend on each other’s outcomes to complete our tasks. Additionally, this position has given me the opportunity to set and track specific goals. Towards the beginning of my internship, I worked with the other members of the team to create a list of specific goals and completion dates for establishing, marketing, and selling water softening systems. I have also practiced and improved my Microsoft Excel skills that I learned in ECO-251 with Dr. Howland and Dr. Byun. I use Excel nearly every day to figure pricing, compile market research, track customer contacts, and much more.

Although I did not become a certified backflow tester, I did participate in parts of our backflow training course. Our week long course includes classroom training and hands-on backflow device testing in our custom wet lab. Here, I am testing a reduced pressure principle backflow assembly using a differential pressure gauge (see picture).

I am extremely grateful to both Wabash and the Lilly Endowment, which have allowed me to gain and sharpen my professional skills through this internship. I would also like to thank Kim Johnson who provided me with expert advice and assistance as I designed and created a print product catalogue for the company!