UAPB Business School Graduating Senior and Junior Duo Win at AR Governor’s Cup Collegiate Business Competition

Westley Guy, a UAPB School of Business and Management (SBM) Graduating Senior, and Jameson Craig, a UAPB SBM junior, won SBM’s first small business award and cash prize at the 2024 Arkansas Governor’s Cup, a collegiate business competition in Little Rock. The UAPB students 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 over 65 colleges competing.

Over two days, including an Awards Luncheon held at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock, AR, the UAPB team competed in oral rounds and a pitch contest, ultimately winning $1750. Their advisors, Dr. Terrence Farrier, UAPB SBM Entrepreneurship Professor and Advisor for UAPB’s Entrepreneurship Club, and Dr. Stephanie Cox, UAPB Accounting Professor, provided mentorship and guidance, playing a crucial role in their success.  

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 Part, 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 over 40 graduates from the UAPB School of Business and Management (SBM) during the 2024 UAPB Spring commencement on May 11. The UAPB School of Business and Management anticipates conferring degrees for seven MBAs and more than thirty-three undergraduates in business and management.

According to the competition guidelines, The Arkansas Governor’s Cup is a prestigious, real-world entrepreneur education opportunity for college and university students. 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 twenty 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.