Eight Utah Valley University (UVU) Masters of Business Administration (MBA) students joined a diverse group of invitees hosted by Dominion Energy and Professional Pipeline Development Group (PPDG) in Salt Lake City last week during the NBA All-Star weekend to network, receive professional development training, and attend All-Star events.

“[The weekend] was great,” second-year MBA student Eric Brighton said. “The organizers clearly had a vision and a passion to give students an opportunity to benefit from leaders willing to take the time to mentor and give back to people at the beginning of their careers. It was very engaging, because when the person is sitting in front of you and answering your questions, it’s different than reading advice from a book that was written for a mass audience.”

Students got to network with executives from Dominion Energy as well as students from Southern University Law Center, University of Utah, and Weber State; learned more about the energy industry; and heard stories from successful entrepreneurs.

MBA student Katie Palmer was named “College All-Star” and was awarded $2,500 in scholarship money.

“My biggest takeaway is that all of us are needed,” Palmer said. “No matter how small or big each of our ambitions are, the world is ready and willing to meet us and sustain us as we seek, grow, create, and become whatever it is we are in pursuit of — not only because we can, but also because the world needs new vision, new leaders, and each of us to step forward and share our voices.”

At the end of the immersive experience, some of the students watched Grambling State University and Southern University face off in the NBA HBCU Classic 2023 (Historically Black Colleges and Universities). At the end of the weekend, second-year MBA student Javier Sanchez reflected on the importance of engaged learning experiences such as this.

“Engaged learning allows you to get first-hand experience and get a deeper understanding of possible opportunities available,” he said. “You are also able to get advice from professionals who can help guide you in the right direction based on their personal experience and career journey. Having this opportunity to spend time with professionals who take the time from their busy agenda is invaluable because of the knowledge they can provide you.”