Students at BYU–Hawaii were mentored and inspired by successful people from all walks of life in the Empower Your Dreams conference held on campus on March 24 and 31.
The event originated in 2009 as the Conference of Champions, which was strictly a business plan competition. Now as Empower Your Dreams, all four colleges on campus were involved.
“It has been exciting watching the conference grow as more students have caught the vision of it,” said James Ritchie, Director of the Willes Center for International Entrepreneurship, “They see that they can prepare to make a difference in the world. We want them to leave the university with more than an education; we want them to get on a path that will help them be successful–a path centered and focused around a future career.”
The business plan competition is now only a part of the conference as a whole; additionally, an undergraduate research conference which began in 2005 is held at the same time which models scholarly and academic conferences. Along with business students can now participate in a competition for accounting case studies, political science public speaking, dynamic and static webpages, a TESOL poster competition, and more.
Students submitted their plans and ideas to panels of experts within each area, with the business plan competition being judged by a panel of entrepreneurial guests and members of the Business Department faculty.
A definite favorite of the students was the “Empower Blasts,” 10 minute inspirational speeches by business leaders and successful entrepreneurs from around the world. In a TED-style format, speakers gave short inspirational messages centered around the theme of the conference, Empower Your Dreams.
Some highlights from the blasts include:
“Know that you know what you are doing, in other words believe in yourself.”
-James Fantone.
“It is the person that matters, not the program, listen to them,” -Becky Douglas.
“I want you to feel a little bit uncomfortable. Go outside the box and do something you are passionate about.” -Lisa Bearnson.
To finish the conference, students celebrated the return of the Seasider men’s basketball team, along with passing a moment of silence for those affected by the recent disasters in Japan.
(Pictured at left-James and Carolyn Ritchie giving the final address at the Empower your Dreams Conference)
The event had a bittersweet finale, as Brother James Ritchie addressed the crowd for what seems to be the last time. He and his wife have been serving as volunteers on the BYU–Hawaii campus for nearly three years, and will be heading home later this month. Said Brother Ritchie, “When we leave these shores, we ought to have some great ideas in our portfolio that will help sustain us and our families throughout our lives.”
Photos by Monique Saenz.