The Hickingbotham School of Business will host the annual Business and Faith Luncheon Friday, April 28 in Walker Conference Center. Doors will open for the lunch at 11:45 a.m. and will conclude in time for students to get to a 1 p.m. class.
Dr. Sonny Tucker, the Executive Director of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention, arranged a time for junior and senior business students to mingle and network with business professionals from around the state. The goal of the day is simple: they want to encourage and invest in students and their futures.
“Some seniors last year said that this lunch was among the most meaningful things they did in their time with the HSB, so I hope you will make it a priority to take advantage of this opportunity,” Dean Bryant McKinney said. “I speak often about the word “ACCESS,” and I think the access students have here to professors, the alumni network, etc. is among the most valuable things Ouachita can offer. This luncheon is a great example of such access. I hope [students] will take advantage.”
A few expected professionals are the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Arkansas Baptist Foundation, Bobby Thomas, Treasurer and Chief Operating Officer Eric Davis and Vice President, Attorney and Ouachita alum, Dillon McClain. Various other executives and members of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention, the Arkansas Baptist Foundation, key members of Christian organizations and churches around the state are expected as well.
“I attended the banquet last year as a junior and sat with Dillon McClain. He talked with us about his journey from Ouachita, to law school, to the foundation,” said Alyssa Johnston, a senior marketing and finance major from McKinney, Texas. “He was so gracious to give us his contact info and allow us to reach out to him if we ever needed anything.”
“I was able to land an internship through the luncheon last year. I sat with Dillon McClain who works as the in-house lawyer for the Convention,” said Kelsey Harris, a senior accounting and finance major from El Dorado. “Me, Jordan Sharp and Emily Long all worked as interns for the Foundation last summer. It was great working, growing and learning to integrate the Lord into everything done in day-to-day operations.”
Students are invited to RSVP to Tammy Alexander, alexandert@obu.edu, in the business school’s dean’s suite or to Dean McKinney, mckinneyb@obu.edu.
by Amber Easterly, staff writer
