Press Release

August 20, 2021 | By Cole Hatcher

Ohio Wesleyan’s 2021-2022 Economics Management Fellows include front row, from left, Kathy Habian, Renae Frymyer, Abigail Trussell, Ben Neher, and Kennedy Watkins, and back row, from left, Katie Lucas, Sammy Stoner, John Cervieri, Cooper Meek, and Kevin Fratz. (Photo by Paul Vernon)

2021-2022 Economics Management Fellows

Ohio Wesleyan Selects 14 First-Year Students for Competitive University Program

DELAWARE, Ohio – Ohio Wesleyan University has selected 14 first-year students as its 2021-2022 Economics Management Fellows. The competitive, four-year fellowships are awarded each fall by OWU’s Woltemade Center for Economics, Business and Entrepreneurship.

The fellows are selected based on their high potential for success at Ohio Wesleyan and their interest in business-related studies. OWU’s newest Economics Management Fellows (EMFs) are:

  • John Cervieri III of Lake Forest, Illinois, who is interested in the areas of business administration and sport and exercise management.
  • Kevin Fratz of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, who is interested in business administration and finance economics.
  • Renae Frymyer of Ostrander, Ohio, who is interested in business and chemistry.
  • Kathy Habian of Medina, Ohio, who is interested in business administration and international business.
  • Kory Kaiser of Cincinnati, Ohio, who is interested in economics and finance economics.
  • Sophie Leohner of Columbus, Ohio, who is interested in business administration.
  • Katie Lucas of New Bremen, Ohio, who is interested in pre-medicine (optometry).
  • Cooper Meek of Van Nuys, California, who is interested in business administration and management economics.
  • Ben Neher of Greeley, Colorado, who is interested in business administration and politics and government.
  • Thomas Stathulis of Westerville, Ohio, who is interested in economics and pre-law.
  • Sammy Stoner of Dublin, Ohio, who is interested in finance economics.
  • Digvijay Tekade of Pune, Maharashtra, India, who is interested in economics.
  • Abigail Trussell of Lewis Center, Ohio, who is interested in politics and government and pre-law.
  • Kennedy Watkins of Blacklick, Ohio, who is interested in business administration and computer science.

To be considered for the fellowship program, students must indicate an interest in economics, business administration, management (marketing or finance), accounting, or international business on their OWU applications; have high-school records that indicate a potential for high achievement at Ohio Wesleyan; and complete personal interviews with Economics and Business Department faculty.

Being selected for the EMF program ensures the first-year students receive an academic adviser from the Economics and Business Department, receive sophomore or junior peer-mentors as freshmen, and are paired with professional mentors as seniors.

Fellows also are enrolled in a first-year seminar open only to them. The seminar is team-taught by the entire Economics and Business Department, helping the students to quickly build relationships with their new professors.

In the second year of the program, students take a faculty-escorted study trip to a major U.S. city, such as New York, where they meet with distinguished Ohio Wesleyan alumni and other professionals working in the city in business or government.

Learn more about Ohio Wesleyan’s Woltemade Center, Department of Economics and Business, and Economics Management Fellows program at owu.edu/woltemade and owu.edu/economics.


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. Learn more at owu.edu.