UA Little Rock Recognized as Partner of the Year

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has been recognized as Partner of the Year by the city of Little Rock Department of Community Programs.

The recognition, announced this summer, is for the university’s participation in the Summer Youth Employment Opportunity (SYEO) program.

University leaders were excited about the award, because “we’re always looking for more ways to give back to the Little Rock community and be a good partner,” said Aaron Duvall, the university’s executive director of Workforce Development. “We can’t wait to bring on” more student-interns next year, and he hopes there will be even more partners participating after 135 worksites hosted youth this summer. 

The internship program doubled to roughly 500 students this summer, which demonstrates “the need is there,” and UA Little Rock hosted the interns for an orientation in June, alongside partners like the city and the Pulaski County Cooperative Extension Office, Duvall said. “We were kind of the hub.” 

Partnering with the city on this program “is a win-win for our community and our campus,” said Emily Cox, vice chancellor for University Affairs. “Welcoming all 500 city interns to campus for a dedicated day of financial literacy education equips these young people with vital real-world skills while introducing them to higher education opportunities right in their backyard.”

Through an “engaging, hands-on Real-Life Financial Simulation, SYEO interns stepped into the driver’s seat of adulthood and faced financial decisions that many adults encounter every day,” noted Monica Montgomery, Community Programs Career Workforce Development coordinator for the city. “With a fixed income and a budget to manage, interns were challenged to make choices about housing, groceries, childcare, transportation, utilities, and other everyday expenses.”

Interns discovered how one financial decision can impact another, and unexpected expenses and “surprise events” added to the realism, she said. “The simulation went beyond simply talking about financial literacy — it allowed interns to experience it.”

Students were able to build confidence, decision-making skills, and financial awareness, according to Montgomery. “For many young people entering the workforce, earning a paycheck is only the beginning: understanding how to manage that paycheck, plan for expenses, save for the future, and prepare for the unexpected are critical skills for long-term success.” 

“The Real-Life Financial Simulation was another example of how SYEO is preparing Little Rock’s youth not only for their first job, but for the many responsibilities and opportunities that come with adulthood,” added Montgomery. “Through partnerships, hands-on experiences, and meaningful workforce development opportunities, the city of Little Rock continues to invest in preparing the next generation to climb, navigate, and conquer their future.”

The summer program introduces Little Rock youth ages 16-21 to the “world of work,” Duvall said, adding that UA Little Rock hosted 10 students for six-week internships in Workforce Development, the Donaghey College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, Little Rock Athletics, and other departments. Additional UA Little Rock departments could participate in the future, as students learn basics of professionalism — from proper work attire to appropriate email communication — through the experience and are compensated financially for their work. 

UA Little Rock’s cohort of 10 interns — who contributed to the revamp of the university’s Career Closet, construction of the soon-to-open Museum of Natural History, and various duties in the athletic department, among other tasks — “were wonderful,” Duvall said. “Good kids, and they were willing to work.”

They also benefited from career training through University Career Services, participating in a professional development career workshop that covered topics like workplace etiquette, drafting emails, and resume building, added Duvall. “The goal was to help them bridge the gap between their summer experience and their future career goals.”