Giving Opportunities
Larry Borst and fellowship recipient Ben Tooley
Benjamin Tooley
Program: MPA - Public Management concentration
Anticipated Graduation Date: December 2007
Hometown: Originally from Berne, Indiana, but now resides in Brownsburg, Indiana
During the 2007 Indiana General Assembly legislative session, Ben served as an intern with the state Senate Finance Committee. Ben was the inaugural recipient of the Lawrence M. Borst Fellowship, which was created to encourage future generations of students to serve the State of Indiana. Senator Borst served as a State Legislator and chaired the Senate Finance Committee for more then three decades.
How did the Borst Fellowship help you financially?
The duties of the Borst Fellowship demand a full-time commitment while the Senate is in session, and the tuition support and stipend allowed me to enjoy the experience without the financial pressures and sacrifices associated with non-funded internships.
How did the Borst Fellowship help you professionally?
The Borst Fellowship provided me with a tremendous jump-start on my professional career. As a direct result of the experience I gained while serving as the Borst Fellow, I was offered a job as a budget analyst with the State Budget Agency and began my new career at the end of the legislative session. In my new career, I am further building upon the knowledge of public finance and budgeting that I gained while at the Senate, and I hope to continue to build upon this base of knowledge as I advance in my career in public service.
What was the most memorable experience you had through the fellowship?
I had many memorable experiences throughout the fellowship, but the most memorable experience was the final hour of the legislative session. It was a very rewarding experience to watch from the Senate floor as both houses of the legislature gave final approval to the State Budget and several other fiscally significant pieces of legislation. It was a great feeling to know that the months of hard work had paid off and, in the end, resulted in a better State of Indiana.