Valley Business Keynote Entrepreneurship in the Arts and Design Scholarship
Call for undergraduate proposals—due Thursday, January 29, 2026
Valley Business Keynote (VBK) is a gathering of local business leaders around an engaging idea for one dynamic presentation. They believe that with the right speakers, this forum can add real value to business leaders and community members in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County. Of paramount interest is the speaker’s ability to help business leaders discover ways to fulfill the vast potential of the Shenandoah Valley and take advantage of its attractive assets. Learn about Valley Business Keynote.
Criteria
The VBK Entrepreneurship in the Arts and Design Scholarship is awarded annually to an undergraduate majoring in the visual or performing arts at JMU. Recipients are ineligible to apply additional times. It specifically supports developing an entrepreneurial venture focused on the arts. It must have a business plan (non-profit or for profit), support a tangible outcome (e.g., developing a product and/or service), and conform to entrepreneurial best practices.
Amount: $1,000
If awarded these funds will be deposited into your university student account and are subject to any outstanding fees owed to JMU. If none, JMU will issue a refund for this amount.
Process
Proposal Components: Due Thursday, January 29, 2026 at 5 pm.
- Title and brief description.
- Justification: A one-page summary of research leading to the creation of the project.
- Project Timeline
- Budget: Must include a detailed budget listing supplies, expenses, and travel needs.
- Mentor: Proposals must include a letter of support from a mentor, indicating their commitment to guide the student through regular meetings. A mentor may be a local businessperson or a JMU faculty or staff member.
- OPTIONAL: Elevator Pitch: Able to be spoken in one minute, this statement clearly indicates who you are, your specific goal or interest, how you have demonstrated that interest, why you are qualified, and a question or an ask. Students may elect to include a video of their elevator pitch.
- Email completed proposal to Interim Associate Dean Eric Guinivan at guiniver@jmu.edu.
