Oglethorpe University

Five Oglethorpe University students attended the FinTech 2018 University Summit sponsored by FinTech Atlanta on Wednesday, Oct. 10, at the American Cancer Society building in downtown Atlanta. Benjamin Davidson, Deanna Long, Parth Patel, Laura Sanchez and Malik Willis learned about the opportunity from Oglethorpe's Atlanta Laboratory for Learning (A_LAB) staff and business professors. FinTech encompasses financial technology in the financial services sector. The event began with a panel discussion with leaders in the FinTech industry plus a pitch session from various Atlanta companies such as Verifone, Pay Scape and Equinox. "We got a lot of information in a short amount of time," said Patel. Long said, "I finally got to know more about what some of these companies did." More than 100 students from many Atlanta-area universities and beyond attended the event, and were able to speak directly with company representatives about internships and post-graduation employment. Patel said he spoke to a number of representatives who asked for his resume to follow up. FinTech Atlanta is a coalition of companies (from Fortune 500s to startups) and other organizations working to cement Atlanta as the recognized global capital of financial technology. The group's priorities are to fund and fuel efforts to recruit, retain and expand businesses and jobs across the FinTech ecosystem in metro Atlanta and the state of Georgia.

Oglethorpe University's Oyinlola (Lola) Oyinloye '21, a politics and economics major, was selected to receive a full scholarship to attend the recent 2019 Forbes Under 30 Scholar Summit held in Detroit, October 27-30, 2019. Oyinloye is a graduate of Sprayberry High School in Marietta, Ga. Touted as the "world's greatest event for entrepreneurs," the annual Summit welcomed 1000 diverse college students and future leaders, looking to grow their network and gain new life experiences in their fields. The immersive experience provides opportunities for learning and accelerated networking in the fields of technology, entertainment, finance, fashion, food, philanthropy and more. Scholars heard from special guests like Serena Williams, Kevin Durant, and Olivia Munn, participated in a service day, and enjoyed a music and food festival. Through the scholarship program, Forbes aims to ensure that a diverse set of high-achieving students from universities across the country are able to engage in the conference program. Scholars are evaluated and selected based on various criteria, including a written statement on how they embody the "Under 30" principles of leadership and innovation. While at Oglethorpe, Oyinloye has been proactive in pursuing experiential learning opportunities, including a recent summer internship on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. On campus, she has served on honor council and as a residence assistant, and is a member of Epsilon Iota Psi Sorority, International Justice Mission, Black Student Caucus, African Student Association, LEAD Campus Ministry, and Bethel Campus Fellowship. "The resources on campus, from the Career Development Center to the faculty, have been major contributors to my success," said Oyinloye. "It is very easy to find your niche and be a leader on campus because we have diverse clubs (and) organizations. Just the overall atmosphere of the community is inspiring, and it encourages me to do more. With every opportunity I am presented with, I aim to represent Oglethorpe University and its values well."