Fall Semester is Just Around the Corner

The Fall semester will be here before long.  We only have about a month left til classes officially start.  Unofficially they have already started for those of us in the entrepreneurship program.  Dr. Carol Reeves is whippin us into competition shape this summer.  After the performance from last year's teams, we have quite a reputation to live up to.  Last year's teams beat up on the likes of Harvard, Yale, and MIT just to mention a few.  We are in the early stages of the class and the teams are just starting to form.  Last Saturday we were presented with ideas from the University that we could use to build a business plan around.  Being a research University offers some unique opportunities.  You have to be on a team by August 23rd or you will not be allowed into the course.  While it seems we have plenty of time to form teams, perhaps we shouldn't wait til the last minute.

Aside from that I am also finishing up my summer internship.  I'm currently working on a customized short course for the Walmart Analytical Research Center geared towards project management and leadership.  I will put the finishing touches on the course this week and next week.  I've really enjoyed my time in ARC this summer.  The projects have been meaningful and fun.  I've been able to use some creativity and develop some out-of-the-box solutions.  The main thing I've gained from the summer internship at Walmart has been all the people I've met.  There are some really great people working there doing great things.  As big as Walmart is there are times when I feel like it has the community atmosphere of a smaller company.  Don't get me wrong, it's still a huge corporation, but the culture instilled by Sam Walton has endured through the exponential growth of the last several decades.

I'm also working on a project for the Walton College Career Career.  I'm currently building an inventory system for the Career Closet.  It is set to open with the Fall semester.  The Closet is already overflowing with clothes.  People have been very receptive to supporting this very worthy cause.  The data entry portion of the system is complete.  The rest of the system will be completed before the official opening of the Career Closet.

The semester is fast approaching and there's plenty to do.  I'm looking forward to the fall and seeing everyone.