The Center for Community and Economic Development (CCED) at the University of Central Arkansas has selected undergraduate students Hunter Crockett of Maumelle and Christine Nichols of Conway for a summer Community and Economic Development (CED) Fellowship.

The mission of the CED Fellowship is to expose students to a variety of community or economic development careers and provide networking, coaching and mentoring to enhance student career preparedness.

During the program, fellows attend site visits that showcase community and economic development activities at the local and state levels of government and in the nonprofit sector. The fellows participate in activities such as job shadowing, organization tours, mock interviews and mentorship from CCED staff. Fellows also have the opportunity to join the Arkansas Community Development Society and attend the 2019 Community Development Institute. Fellowship activities are customized to fit students’ interests and needs.

“I applied for the CED Fellowship because I want to learn how to improve communities. By meeting with influencers in local and state government, nonprofits and other organizations, I can learn how and why important decisions are made,” said Nichols, a senior public relations and filmmaking major.

Crockett, a senior geography and public administration major, said, “Through the CED Fellowship, I hope to take away relevant experience I can use in my future career. I also am interested in being exposed to opportunities that will allow me to make a difference in communities throughout Arkansas.”

The summer 2019 fellowship will run through August, with a site visit to a community and economic development organization occurring each month. The fellows will visit the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce, Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism, Arkansas Economic Development Commission, Arkansas GIS Office, Metroplan and Crafton Tull.

“Our team has offered the Community and Economic Development Fellowship program since spring 2018. We have impacted 12 UCA undergraduate and graduate students through the program so far and look forward to growing our impact on students in the years to come,” said Shelby Fiegel, managing director of the Center for Community and Economic Development. “We are excited to work one-on-one with both Christine and Hunter this summer to provide them with the tools and connections they need to be successful upon graduating from UCA next year.”

For more information about the CED Fellowship, visit: uca.edu/cced/community-and-economic-development-fellowship/ or call Moriah Bruner at 501.450.3460.