FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Saatchi & Saatchi X of Northwest Arkansas is sponsoring a Diversity Internship Challenge for University of Arkansas students interested in pursuing a career in advertising or marketing. The challenge is co-sponsored by the Office of Minority of Affairs in the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas.

Preference will be given to students with majors in business, journalism, communications, public relations, art, and English with diverse and multicultural backgrounds. Eight applicants will be selected to work on two teams and will complete an assignment aimed at changing the face of history in Northwest Arkansas.

After completing the assignment, winners from each Diversity Challenge team will become “The Interns.” The selected interns will be awarded a 90-day paid 2006 summer internship with plenty of perks: a competitive weekly salary; monthly mentoring for a semester by a Saatchi & Saatchi X executive; guaranteed interview for a full-time position at Saatchi upon graduation from the University of Arkansas; a $500 stipend for tuition, books or housing for the 2006-2007 University of Arkansas school year for sophomores and juniors; and $100 Northwest Arkansas Mall gift card at the completion of the internship for graduating seniors.

“Each will gain bankable, brains-on experience, learning what it really takes to develop strategic results-driven marketing campaigns that turn shoppers into buyers. The interns will work at one of the most prestigious and innovative shopper marketing advertising agencies on the planet, Saatchi & Saatchi X, and will learn from the best and brightest in the business,” said Barbara Lofton, director of minority affairs in the Walton College.

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.

Applications for the internship are due to Barbara Lofton by Friday, Feb. 3, and the winners will be announced Monday, Feb. 27, at the close of Black History Month. For more information about the Diversity Internship Challenge or to apply, contact the Office of Minority Affairs, Sam M. Walton College of Business, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701; call (479) 575-4557; or e-mail blofton@walton.uark.edu.