Walton College Team Wins Alley Scholars Summit Business Competition

Photo credit: Ryan Versey

Troy Alley Jr., daughter Kristen, son Troy III and wife Unnice (far right) recognize Walton students Carolina Mendez, Jacqueline Sade and Thea Winston for their first place win.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Students from the Sam M. Walton College of Business placed first in the 2016 Alley Scholars Summit business plan competition in Fort Worth, Texas, March 4-5, at Tarrant County College.

Walton business students Jacqueline Sade, Carolina Mendez and Thea Winston competed in the final round against the University of Southern Mississippi, Prairie View A&M University and Richland College, bringing home the first place award and a $4,000 prize. Defending last year’s first place win, the Walton team presented its business plan for a social magazine platform called Campus Culture. 

Fifty students from Walton College participated in the two-day summit, an event for under-represented students, which featured speakers, workshops and opportunities to network with professionals and students representing 15 universities from Mississippi, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas.

This year’s speakers included astronaut Bernard H. Harris Jr., the first African American to walk in space, and Obie McKenzie, the managing director at Black Rock asset management firm. Additionally, several companies participated in a telephone consultation activity, conducting timed sessions with students.

“To win first place for the second year in a row is amazing,” said Barbara Lofton, Walton College director of Diversity and Inclusion. “But just as impressive is having the coaches and resources to assist in winning. This is the Walton College way. I appreciate Kenneth Ford, Sue Sedberry and the staff in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion for all of their hard work to prepare this team.”

University of Arkansas alumnus Troy Alley and his wife Unnice, started the summit five years ago as a way of giving back to under-represented students.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.