Program to explore success for Arkansas eighth-graders

Eighth grade students in Southwest Arkansas will “Explore Success” from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Oct. 16 in the Hempstead Hall on the campus of the University of Arkansas in Hope, Ark.

About 1,000 area eighth grade students will participate in the youth manufacturing conference, said Steve Harris, president of the Hempstead County Economic Development Corporation. The campus is located at 2500 South Main Street in Hope.

“The goal of ‘Explore Success’ is to enable students to learn first-hand information from industry and manufacturing leaders about requirements for obtaining local jobs, and thus better plan for success in their futures,” said Harris.

Local college representatives will be on-hand to answer questions and speak to students on a variety of secondary education options, and about 12 local manufacturers will answer questions and provide insight into what local employers seek in an incoming workforce.

The guest speakers include:

Eric Thomas, Ph.D., an acclaimed author, world-renowned speaker, educator and pastor. As CEO of his consulting firm, ETA LLC., Thomas has led his team through the doors of Fortune 500 companies such as General Electric, Quicken Loans, AT&T, Nike, Under Armour, New Balance and UPS. He has also consulted for major universities and the major sports teams within the MLB, NBA, NFL and MLS.

Paul Vitale uses a combination of energy, and experience to encourage and motivate others. He served for 22 years as CEO and founder of Vital Communications, Inc., is a native of Arkansas, and acquired his degree in mass communications and journalism from the University of Central Arkansas. He speaks worldwide about the significance of optimism, a strong work ethic, and concepts vital to personal and professional growth.