Jacob Ruetz of Noblesville, Indiana, graduates with sixth cohort of Olivet's Honors Program

2016 May 12

Jacob Ruetz of Noblesville, Indiana, graduated with the sixth cohort of Honors Program graduates as part of Olivet Nazarene University's Class of 2016 during the 103rd Commencement Convocation on Saturday, May 7, 2015.

As their time at Olivet came to a close, Honors students presented their required research projects during Scholar Week 2016, April 18 to 23. "A Practical Approach to Address Pornography Viewing at Olivet" was Ruetz's project.

He has accepted a position with the accounting firm of London Witte & Company, Indianapolis, Indiana. He will also be starting a nonprofit organization, designed as a local outreach for Indianapolis churches, with the goal of helping people feel more comfortable, welcomed and loved in a new church by forming direct relationships between churches and seekers.

The mission of Olivet's Honors Program is to encourage and nurture academically gifted students, helping them to believe in their possibilities, preparing them to become the Christian scholars and servant leaders they were meant to be. Dr. Charles Carrigan, professor in Olivet's Department of Chemistry and Geosciences, is the program's director.

To enter the program, a student must have a composite ACT score of at least 30 or a Math and Critical Reading combined SAT score of at least 1330, and be interviewed by the program committee.

In addition to fulfilling the requirements for their respective majors, Honors Program students take four interdisciplinary, team-taught classes covering an intriguing topic. Then, they complete a substantial, faculty-mentored research project during their last two years, doing one-on-one mentored research with a professor of their choice with funding provided. They may also choose to study abroad during junior year.