Jonesboro, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – Arkansas State University is hosting the 10th annual Small Business Leadership Conference today.

The Center for Economic Education and Financial Literacy and the Kays Foundation Scarlet to Black Program organize the competition for students in grades 3 to 6.

This will be the fourth of seven competitions and conferences planned for the academic year. According to an A-State news release, the programs have taught 468 students from kindergarten to sixth grade. Today’s the largest of the year, with 324 students from 18 Northeast Arkansas schools expected to attend.

“Each team submitted a written business plan, a print marketing piece, a recorded commercial, and a recorded elevator pitch. Fourteen A-State students recently spent an evening judging all submissions,” Dr. Philip Tew, director of the Center for Economic Education and Financial Literacy, and director of Kays Foundation Scarlet to Black Program for Financial Independence, said in the release. “During the conference, the top five elevator pitch teams in each grade category will present live in the auditorium.”

The students have created 82 team-based businesses focused on toys, games or entertainment products for their age group. Hytrol Conveyor Co. is helping to sponsor the conference.

During the competition, students will rotate through four workshops, which are designed to strengthen creativity, public speaking and communication, problem-solving, teamwork and leadership. Fifty-five A-State students are leading the workshops.

The conference will take place on the third floor of the Reng Student Union. The event schedule is as follows:

  • Welcome session in Centennial Hall at 9 a.m.
  • Live elevator pitches beginning at 9:30 a.m., workshops held in meeting rooms across the third floor
  • Awards ceremony at 1:10 p.m.

Parents, grandparents and educators typically attend, the release said, bringing total attendance to more than 400 guests.

All participating students are members of their schools’ gifted and talented programs. Participating schools are listed below:

  • Brookland Middle School
  • Buffalo Island Central Elementary
  • Corning Middle School
  • East Poinsett County Elementary
  • Harrisburg Elementary
  • Health, Wellness, and Environmental Studies Elementary
  • International Studies Elementary
  • Leadership Elementary
  • Manila Elementary
  • Marked Tree Elementary
  • Math & Science Elementary
  • Newport Elementary
  • STEAM Intermediate
  • University Heights School of Medical Arts
  • Valley View Intermediate
  • Visual and Performing Arts Elementary
  • Walnut Ridge Elementary
  • Wynne Intermediate

Several of these schools are joining the competition for the first time. Faculty and staff are invited to stop by and observe the students’ work throughout the day.

For more information, one may contact Tew, Ptew@AState.edu or (870) 972-3742.