The Initiative on Faith & Public Life’s 2020 Weekend Honors Program—hosted in partnership with Wheaton College’s Center for Faith & Innovation—is an intensive seminar on business and entrepreneurship for 15–20 Christian undergraduate students from colleges and universities across the country. Unlike a traditional academic seminar, the program will primarily consist of interactive exercises and sessions that encourage entrepreneurial thinking. It will also provide a unique chance for students to explore questions about personal vocation and calling, as well as the proper role of faith and ethics in business through discussions and high-level networking opportunities.
Due to the ongoing the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s program will be hosted virtually. The agenda has been truncated slightly, but the program content will remain largely unchanged.
Location
Virtual
Dates
November 6–7, 2020
Stipend
$150
Preference will be given to students who have not previously participated in a Weekend Honors Program or AEI’s Summer Honors Program.
Application Deadline: October 4, 2020
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Additional Program Details:
A small, impressive cohort of participants will take part in two interactive tutorials with Brian Brenberg, including: a Harvard Business School case study examining the prototyping process and the social value and consequences of business; and a discussion about faith, personal identity, and what it means to fail by design. Additionally, students will engage in two practicums on design thinking, business model canvassing, career design, and vocational mapping, led by Haley Robison Dake. Beyond these sessions, students will have the opportunity to hear from and network with several Christian business leaders from Wheaton College’s network.
Past Guest Speakers Include:
Patrick Briaud, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors
John Coleman, Invesco, Ltd.
Bethany Jenkins, The Veritas Forum
L. Gregory Jones, Duke Divinity School
John Kingston, Sword & Spoon Group
Michael Lindsay, Gordon College
Gregory Thornbury, New York Academy of Art
Oye Waddell, Hustle PHX
Andreas Widmer, The Catholic University of America
Schedule of events:
Friday, November 6
11:00 am Welcome and Introductions
12:00 pm Tutorial I, Brian Brenberg
2:30 pm Break
3:00 pm Practicum I, Haley Robison Dake
4:30 pm Break
5:00 pm Networking Session
6:00 pm Adjourn
Saturday, November 7
12:00 pm Practicum II, Haley Robison Dake
3:00 pm Break
3:30 pm Tutorial II, Brian Brenberg
4:30 pm Lunch
4:45 pm Closing Talk, Dr. Keith Johnson, Wheaton College
5:45 pm Final Networking Session
6:30 pm Adjourn
*Note: Agenda is subject to slight modifications.
SPEAKERS AND INSTRUCTORS
Brian Brenberg serves as Executive Vice President and Chair of the Program in Business and Finance at The King’s College. Prior to joining the King’s faculty, he worked in the financial services and medical device industries, as well as public policy research and philanthropy. He earned an MBA with distinction from Harvard Business School and an MPA from the Harvard Kennedy School.
Haley Robison Dake is a Praxis Venture Partner. She was previously the CEO at Kammok, an outdoor brand based in Austin, Texas, that designs performance gear to elevate time outside. Having previously worked at IDEO, Bain & Company, and Stanford University, Haley’s most inspired at the intersection of design, business, and education. Haley holds a BA in Business and Finance from UT Austin and a joint MBA and MEd from Stanford University. She is a National Outdoor Leadership School graduate and worked as a field instructor in Wyoming, leading outdoor expeditions focused on personal leadership. Haley most enjoys adventuring outside with her husband Christian, son James, and dog Callie.
Eligibility:
- Applicants must be current undergraduates. Preference will be given to juniors and seniors, and to students who have not previously participated in an AEI honors program.
- Applicants must have a recommendation letter from a faculty member at their college or university.
- International students are eligible.
Application Instructions:
- Applicants must submit a resume, an unofficial transcript, and a personal statement explaining: 1) their interest in business and entrepreneurship (and, if applicable, ways in which that interest is inspired by their faith); 2) their future career aspirations; and 3) why they want to participate in the Initiative on Faith & Public Life’s Weekend Honors Program.
- Applicants must secure a recommendation from a faculty member at their college or university in order to apply. Faculty members must submit their referral through an online form which will be emailed to them after the student completes their application.
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