FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — At the headquarters of Saatchi & Saatchi X last Friday, seven University of Arkansas students eagerly waited to hear “You’re Hired.” Two would be selected in the Northwest Arkansas Diversity Internship Challenge to work this summer as interns for the marketing company. Imagine their surprise when all seven were given internships. Four will work for Saatchi & Saatchi X, one will work for its client Procter & Gamble, and two will work for Tyson Foods Inc.

The competition, launched in January, was open to all University of Arkansas students interested in pursuing a career in advertising or marketing and co-sponsored by the Office of Minority of Affairs in the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas. Twenty-one UA students submitted resumes, wrote essays on how diversity can make Saatchi & Saatchi X a better place to work, and were interviewed to participate in the internship challenge.

The seven finalists were given a project to promote diversity in Northwest Arkansas by recruiting and retaining African Americans, Hispanic and Asian American employees.

The finalists worked on two teams and completed an assignment aimed at attracting and retaining diverse employees in the NWA area and increasing diversity awareness in the region.

 “We were astounded at the high level of talent and creativity these students brought to the project we assigned them,” said Cheryl Munson, creative director at Saatchi & Saatchi X. “We had to give all of them an internship.” Munson brought the idea for the Diversity Challenge to executives at Saatchi and coordinated the competition.

 The students will now receive a 90-day paid 2006 summer internship with a competitive weekly salary; monthly mentoring for a semester by a business executive; and guaranteed interview for a full-time position upon graduation.

Andy Murray, Worldwide CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi X, made the announcement on April 21 at the company’s headquarters in Springdale. He said, “We feel that all of these students have the ability to dream 'big.’ Diversity has been a challenge for the company in recruiting. We feel the best ideas come when you have diversity of cultures and backgrounds. None of us are as strong as all of us. We are very excited about the quality of these students.”

Eva Agrawat, a marketing major from Bombay, India; Lizliana Ramos, a double-major in journalism and marketing from Chicago; Imraan Ismail, a marketing management major from Harare, Zimbabwe; and Amy Ha, a marketing major from Nashville, Ark., will work for Saatchi & Saatchi X.

Cecilia Grossberger, a master’s candidate in communication from Cochabama, Bolivia; and Amanda Jones, a marketing management major from Little Rock, Ark., will work for Tyson Foods, and Celise Weems, an agribusiness major with minors in marketing and communications from Little Rock, will work for Procter & Gamble.

Johnny Lea, group vice president for consumer products at Tyson Foods Inc., said, “We are looking forward to having these two outstanding students work with us in our marketing area this summer. We will benefit from their energy, creativity and diverse perspectives.”

In addition, the top winners, Eva Agrawat and Lizliana Ramos will receive a $500 stipend for tuition, books or housing for the 2006-2007 University of Arkansas school year and a $100 Northwest Arkansas Mall gift card at the completion of the internship.

“This is a great opportunity for these seven students. They were very surprised to find out they were all selected. They have gained bankable, brains-on experience, learning what it takes to be in the advertising and marketing business. The interns will learn from the best and brightest in the business,” said Barbara Lofton, director of Minority Affairs for the Walton College.

Murray serves on the advisory board and executive board of directors of the Walton College Center for Retailing Excellence, directed by Claudia Mobley. Saatchi & Saatchi X is a division of Saatchi & Saatchi, which is owned by Publics Group S.A., the fourth-largest communications group in the world.