The University of Central Arkansas Office of Diversity and Community will host the 2019 Alley Scholars Summit on Saturday, March 2, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the McCastlain Hall Ballroom on the UCA campus. The theme of the event will be “How to merge entrepreneurship and technology into success – Thinking outside the box in the New Age.”
The Alley Scholars Summit brings together select minority students from colleges and universities across the nation to participate in leadership development workshops and networking activities. Students are chosen for the program based on their strong academic credentials, active campus involvement, and demonstrated leadership, problem-solving and strong verbal and written communication skills.
“Too often, historically underrepresented students do not have access to networking beyond their everyday circles,” said Dr. Angela Webster, associate vice president for institutional diversity and inclusion at UCA. “The Alley Scholars Summit serves as a boundary spanner that affords students with rich opportunities for professional networking. For this, we are grateful.”
The event’s keynote speaker will be Jonathon Oudthone, founder & president of NGAGE Esports, a creative broadcast and events management company that specializes in brand activation and fan engagement in Esports (organized video game competitions). Oudthone has led Infinite Esports & Entertainment’s events management and broadcast production arm since 2009. He has also served as the Broadcast Director for some of the largest events in competitive gaming. Currently, he is the project lead for the development of the Arlington, Texas Esports Stadium.
During the event, students will also participate in the Alley Scholars Innovation Challenge, which is a case-study focused on business plan development and social entrepreneurship. Students are paired into teams with other participants and academic/business professionals to generate solutions to real-world business problems. The challenge will culminate with students presenting solutions to a panel of experts and venture capitalists. Prizes will be awarded.
The Alley Scholars is a nonprofit organization that assists deserving minority students with their education and career goals by providing scholarships, networking and career opportunities. Learn more at alleyscholars.com.
The Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion serves to help UCA become Arkansas’ premiere university for diversity and inclusive excellence. The mission of the UCA Office of Diversity and Community is to provide multiple support services to enhance the academic success of students from underrepresented populations in higher education, and to create an inclusive campus community. Both offices promote student success through retention-focused programs, mentoring, leadership development opportunities and life skills enrichment. Learn more at uca.edu/diversity.
For more information, contact Webster at (501) 450-3135 or awebster@uca.edu. For a complete event agenda, click here.
