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2022 Latham Scholars

Ohio Wesleyan Selects Six Students for Competitive Entrepreneurial Education Program

DELAWARE, Ohio – The Woltemade Center for Economics, Business and Entrepreneurship at Ohio Wesleyan University has selected six students for its 2022 class of Latham Entrepreneurial Scholars.

The new Latham Scholars will take special classes, receive funds to support an internship, and develop their own entrepreneurial ventures as they prepare themselves to become the next generation of business trailblazers. Ohio Wesleyan’s 2022 Latham Entrepreneurial Scholars are:

• Love Ayinde of Ilorin, Kwara, Nigeria
• Ben Bunting of New Hope, Pennsylvania
• Maddie Coleman of Avon Lake, Ohio
• Aubrey Dunham of Minerva, Ohio
• Ava Hurd of Grove City, Ohio
• Kennedy Watkins of Blacklick, Ohio

In their first semester of the program, the Latham Entrepreneurial Scholars learn about the entrepreneurial mindset by attending a special entrepreneurship seminar, interacting with an online learning module, competing in the annual Pitch OWU Competition, and meeting with various multiple entrepreneurs. The online learning covers the basics of a business startup while focusing on their own business ideas.

This learning is self-paced and allows students with limited or no business experience or coursework to learn the basics of a business startup in a manageable way. It also enables them to develop a business plan for their own ideas or concepts. Students even have the opportunity to complete a draft business plan by the end of the semester.

In their second semester of the program, the scholars participate in an entrepreneurial internship tailored to their skill and knowledge level. A majority of these internships are in partnership with the Delaware Entrepreneurial Center at Ohio Wesleyan University, a business accelerator located on the OWU campus and created in collaboration with both Delaware County and the City of Delaware.

The program culminates in a signature travel-learning trip to visit OWU alumni engaged in entrepreneurial ventures, enabling the scholars to learn and experience how university alumni are pursuing their entrepreneurial dreams using the educational foundation they received at Ohio Wesleyan.

The Latham Entrepreneurial Scholars Program was created with the support of OWU graduate Carol Latham, Class of 1961. She is the retired founder, president, and CEO of Thermagon, Inc., a custom manufacturer of high performance heat-transfer materials for electronic components. Under her leadership, Thermagon grew to sales of $18 million annually worldwide.

The program is open to all sophomores, juniors, and seniors who have achieved a GPA of 2.0 or higher. Candidates interview with at least one Latham Entrepreneurial Scholars committee member and submit a letter of reference from an OWU faculty member.

Learn more about Ohio Wesleyan’s Woltemade Center at owu.edu/woltemade, more about its Delaware Entrepreneurial Center at owu.edu/delaware-entrepreneurial-center, and more about the OWU Department of Economics and Business at owu.edu/economics.

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Founded in 1842, Ohio Wesleyan University is one of the nation’s premier liberal arts universities. Located in Delaware, Ohio, the private university offers more than 70 undergraduate majors and competes in 24 NCAA Division III varsity sports. Through its signature program, The OWU Connection, Ohio Wesleyan teaches students to integrate knowledge across disciplines, build a diverse and global perspective, and apply knowledge in real-world settings. Ohio Wesleyan is featured in the book “Colleges That Change Lives” and included on the U.S. News & World Report and Princeton Review “Best Colleges” lists. Connect with OWU expert interview sources at owu.edu/experts or learn more at owu.edu.