- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

Helgestad looks forward to giving back to the community through dentistry

Ajani Oyindamola — Mon, 20 May 2019 13:06:56 +0000

Ingrid Helgestad, 22, of Bryant, has been considering becoming a dentist since she was 14. To encourage this goal, Helgestad’s parents, Karl and Tara Helgestad, took her on a mission trip to Guatemala with St. James United Methodist Church when she was 17. She can remember the exact moment when she decided to become a dentist.�� “When we went to Guatemala, I asked specifically to assist in the dentistry portion. I assisted Dr. Tina Nichols,” Helgestad said. “Since they don’t have enough time to do bridges, the dentists pull all the teeth and the patients get dentures. I remember standing there holding 20 bloody teeth for one woman who was getting dentures. Even though these people were in pain, they were leaving with so much hope because they were about to get their health back. This is when I solidified that dentistry is what I wanted to do in college.” Helgestad graduated from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock on May 11 with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and is well on her way to becoming a dentist. She already works as a registered dental assistant with Dr. Kathleen Good Ederle in Little Rock and is applying to dental schools this month. “I like dentistry because I enjoy doing art and being creative, but I also enjoy business. Combining these areas together is what general dentistry is like,” she said. “Working as a dental assistant, I see how happy people get even with just a little cosmetic work to their teeth.” After graduating from Bryant High School in 2015, Helgestad decided on ��Vlog��ý Little Rock after meeting the faculty and being accepted to the Donaghey Scholars program, which covered her tuition, fees, and housing while providing a living stipend, computer, and study abroad assistance. “��Vlog��ý Little Rock was the perfect medium between a small school environment and a big school environment,” Helgestad said. “Once I got a tour of the facilities, met the professors, and received the Donaghey scholarship, it was a no brainer. I had a great experience with every professor I met.” While at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Helgestad found she had a knack for business and entrepreneurship. She was part of a medical startup company, Spiritum Solutions, with ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students Noah Asher and Nick Lester. The start-up was selected for the Delta I-Fund Business Accelerator program in the fall 2017 semester and won first place in the undergraduate division of the Arkansas Governor’s Cup in April 2018. Helgestad developed a prototype for a device that reduces unplanned extubations in critical care units. “Winning the Governor’s Cup is a highlight of my college career, but the thing that sticks out the most to me at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is how close I am to my professors,” Helgestad said. “To me, that is way more important than being in a lecture hall with 400 students. Dr. Brian Berry from the Chemistry Department, Dr. David Tonkyn from the Biology Department, and Dr. Jessica Scott and Dr. Simon Hawkins from the Donaghey Scholars have always been there for me. Having support from my chairs and the Donaghey Scholars program has led to my success.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Donaghey Scholars and best friends Ingrid Helgestad, left, and Abby Resendiz, right, congratulate each other after their commencement ceremony on May 11. Photo by Ben Krain.

As someone who is very grateful for the help she received in her college career, Helgestad has given back to the community by volunteering with Girls of Promise Annual STEM Conference, Girl Scouts, CARE for Animals, Habitat for Humanity, and the 12th Street Health and Wellness Dental Clinic. “The Girls of Promise STEM Conference was my favorite volunteer experience in college,” she said. “I became a team leader, and I was kind of afraid because I was in charge of 13- and 14-year-old girls. I’ve always been an advocate for girls and women to do what they can do without feeling like they aren’t good enough. I tell these girls that they are worthy and smart and totally capable of doing anything they want to do. All the girls in my group wanted to do computer science or physics and biology, and it was really fun to see their faces light up when they talked about it.” Helgestad also continued her love of service in the dental area. At the beginning of the 2018-19 school year, she and a classmate, Brendan Frazier, started a student chapter of the Natural Teeth Ambassador program at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. Theoutreach program focuses on dental care that educates at-risk elementary school students and families in the Little Rock area. Last year, the ambassadors visited two elementary schools and hope to reach more this year. “It’s called the Superhero program, and we use lots of different fun activities to get kids excited about being superheroes,” she said. “They combat the bad guys, plaque and acid, with their special tools, toothpaste and floss. At the end of the program, we give them dental supplies donated by Delta Dental.” At the end of her ��Vlog��ý Little Rock education, Helgestad said that combining her love of dentistry, engineering, and business is what made the journey so special. “I definitely have enjoyed getting to incorporate business and entrepreneurship into my college experience,” she explained. “I was unsure when I first started how I was going to do that. It’s crazy that I combined everything I love into my college experience – dentistry, engineering through the medical device, and business. I’m really proud and excited that this community has supported me in doing that.”

ASBTDC plans week of activities to encourage entrepreneurship

��Vlog��ý Little Rock — Thu, 01 Nov 2018 13:03:02 +0000

Anyone at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock interested in exploring entrepreneurship can turn to the on-campus experts at the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center. Part of the College of Business, ASBTDC offers no-cost consulting and market research to budding entrepreneurs, along with a variety of educational events. During Global Entrepreneurship Week��Nov. 12-18, the center will host a slate of free entrepreneurship-focused activities, including Small Talk, an event for ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students. is set for 5-7 p.m. Nov. 15 in the Reynolds Business Center atrium. Students are invited to network and have a bite to eat ,then hear from three young entrepreneurs: Mario Settles of Trukplease, Liz Sniegocki of Haven Massage Therapy, and Matthew Young of ListingVillage. The trio will share their startup stories through TED-style talks. The event is a joint effort of ASBTDC and the College of Business. Additional GEW events include:

– Nov. 13, The Centre in University Park. “Startup in a Day” combines three of the center’s most popular seminars, “Starting a Business in Arkansas,” “Writing a Business Plan,” and “Financing Options.”
– Nov. 14, Little Rock Technology Park. The Business Innovations Clinic at the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law will share ways to safeguard inventions, written material, apps, symbols, names, images and other types of intellectual property.
(webinar) – Nov. 14

ASBTDC will kick off its new “Boost Business in Your Community” online series for mayors, county judges, and other local elected officials. The webinar will discuss what communities can do to assist new and potential business owners. All the events are free of charge. The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center assists entrepreneurs at every stage of business development and growth. Learn more at . Global Entrepreneurship Week is the world’s largest celebration of the innovators and job creators who launch startups. Through local, national and global activities, GEW inspires people everywhere to take the next step in their entrepreneurial journey. Last year, events took place in 167 countries.

��Vlog��ýLR to host lectures to inspire entrepreneurship in Little Rock

Ajani Oyindamola — Mon, 14 Nov 2016 18:11:56 +0000

In celebration of Global Entrepreneurship Week, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock will host workshops Nov. 15-16 to encourage entrepreneurship.�� The lectures will be held in conjunction with . During Nov. 14-18, partner organizations will be holding a series on entrepreneurial events and workshops throughout the metro area. “The classrooms, labs, halls, and offices of this university have many potential entrepreneurs in them, so we are excited to join the Clinton School, the Innovation Hub, and the Venture Center in hosting Global Entrepreneurship Week activities,” said Shannon Roberts, training manager for ASBTDC. ��Vlog��ýLR faculty, staff, and students can participate in the on-campus events for free. They include:

��Boost Your Sales: 10 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 15: Grow your sales and revenues with proven techniques. Develop a sales strategy, learn how to recognize buyers’ needs, strengthen your sales team’s communication with customers, and get tips for hiring, training and evaluating salespeople.
��How to Write a Business Plan: 1 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 15: All businesses, especially new ventures, need a business plan. Crafting a plan helps you define your concept, evaluate your competition, determine risks, and estimate costs. Using ASBTDC’s “To the Point” outline, learn how to put together a plan that will guide the growth of your business and that you can share with lenders and investors.
��My Student Startup Story: 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16: Join in the discussion of what entrepreneurship looks like for today’s college student. Hear first-hand experiences in today’s start-up landscape and how to balance work and life. Presented by Blake Norman, ASBTDC business consultant and former co-owner of Beyond Boundaries Outdoor & Adventure.

To register for the events, visit the For more information, contact Pamela Reed at 501.683.7700 or pmreed@ualr.edu.

- University News Archive - ����Vlog��ý Little Rock

Helgestad looks forward to giving back to the community through dentistry

ASBTDC plans week of activities to encourage entrepreneurship

����Vlog��ýLR to host lectures to inspire entrepreneurship in Little Rock

- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

��Vlog��ýLR to host lectures to inspire entrepreneurship in Little Rock