Westley Guy, a University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff graduating senior, and Jameson Craig, a UAPB junior, won the School of Business and Management’s first small business award and cash prize at the 2024 Arkansas Governor’s Cup.
The Governor’s Cup is a collegiate business competition recently held in Little Rock.
Both students are studying in the UAPB School of Business and Management. The two were accepted to compete and delivered a business plan briefing and pitch for a Financial Planning Business in front of an audience of approximately 600 with more than 65 colleges competing, according to a news release.
Over two days, including an awards luncheon held at the Statehouse Convention Center, the UAPB team competed in oral rounds and a pitch contest, ultimately winning $1,750.
Their advisors, Terrence Farrier, UAPB SBM Entrepreneurship professor and advisor for UAPB’s Entrepreneurship Club, and Stephanie Cox, UAPB accounting professor, provided mentorship and guidance, playing a crucial role in their success, according to the release.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Beyond their win, the UAPB team had the opportunity to network with other students, entrepreneurs, economic developers, and investors as part of the Governor’s Cup process. Networking opportunities included attending orientation and dinner at the Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub, lunch at the Venture Center at Little Rock Technology Park, a mixer, dinner, and a pitch contest at Club27.
This experience enriched their understanding of the business world and opened doors for potential future collaborations.
Guy will be among more than 40 graduates from the UAPB School of Business and Management during the UAPB 2024 spring commencement on May 11. The program anticipates awarding seven Master of Business in Administration degrees and more than 33 undergraduate degrees in business and management.
“The Arkansas Governor’s Cup is a prestigious, real-world entrepreneur education opportunity for college and university students,” according to the competition guidelines. “Application and acceptance include a 10-page written business plan, a 15-minute oral presentation, and a 60-second elevator pitch event. Arkansas Capital Corporation has hosted it through the Education to Develop and Grow Entrepreneurs (EDGE) Initiative for over 20 years. The competition, made possible through the generous title sponsorship of Dhu C. Thompson, is known for celebrating Arkansas’s future entrepreneurs and business leaders.”