06/02/2026
Assistant Professor Nick Johnston recently served as an expert judge at the Emerge NWA Food Festival, hosted at The Momentary, where local entrepreneurs pitched their food business concepts as part of the Cureate Courses cohort showcase.
Students from the University of Arkansas Hospitality Management capstone course partnered with entrepreneurs throughout the program, serving as sustainability consultants and helping identify and implement practical solutions for their businesses. The experience provided hands-on application of classroom knowledge while supporting innovation in the local food community.
The event concluded with a pitch competition, where entrepreneurs competed for a $5,000 award to help launch or expand their ventures.
Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences Cureate University of Arkansas Hospitality Management