Who we are

Ignite Professional Studies is a forward-thinking, project-based learning program within Bentonville Schools that connects high-school juniors and seniors with real-world industry experiences. Students work alongside business professionals, explore career pathways, and earn industry certifications and college credit — all while developing the durable skills employers value most: communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and leadership.

Whether through client projects, internships, or professional partnerships, Ignite empowers students to discover their passions, build confidence, and graduate ready to make an immediate impact in college, career, and community.

Relevance is key to the Ignite learning model.

Ignite students solve real problems while being mentored by real employers, leading to real contributions in the professional arena. 

Our Projects

  • A group of people sitting around a conference table in a meeting room, smiling for a photo with a large screen displaying 'SEE A GRAND FUTURE' and 'Grand Savings Bank' in the background.

    Grand Savings Bank

    Global Business students partnered with Grand Savings Bank to explore how to better attract and engage Gen Z customers. Teams researched Gen Z financial behaviors, created customer personas, and developed creative, data-informed marketing strategies. The project wrapped with a Shark Tank–style pitch to GSB leaders featuring ideas to help the bank stand out with the next generation.

  • Group of five young professionals standing in an office, holding boxed frozen food products, dressed in business attire, smiling.

    U of A New Product Strategy & Development

    In this cross-disciplinary project, Global Business and Law/Public Policy students teamed up to develop a new consumer product from concept to compliance. Guided by retail mentors, teams created branding and packaging, built a mock Walmart.com product page, and evaluated key legal considerations like labeling, privacy, and consumer protections. The project concluded with a professional pitch to a mock Walmart buyer, combining retail strategy with public policy insight.

  • Person wearing glasses and a face mask working on a laptop displaying a graph or chart, with another laptop nearby.

    Toshiba Data Analysis

    Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions gave students a first hand look at the importance of data analysis. Toshiba challenged students to analyze a live set of data in order to make decisions and recommendations on software defects. Every Ignite student made it through 9,000 rows of data and reported on 7 different deliverables. Several students used this opportunity to take and pass their Excel 1 Certification exam. 

  • Group of six people standing in front of a large digital screen displaying 'Peoples Parlor' logo at an indoor event.

    Create a Barbershop

    This hands-on entrepreneurship challenge tasked students with developing a full business concept for a modern barbershop — from branding and pricing to financial modeling and community engagement. Working in teams, students blended creativity with business fundamentals to design a concept ready for launch in today’s market.

  • A woman presenting during a business meeting or conference, with attendees seated and a presentation slide titled 'Major Trends' displayed on a screen behind her.

    Walmart vs. Amazon

    Students stepped into the role of strategy consultants to predict which retail giant — Walmart or Amazon — will dominate the industry by 2040. Using real data and professional tools like SWOT Analysis and Porter’s Five Forces, teams analyzed global trends in technology, consumer behavior, and competition to build a data-driven case for the future of retail.

  • Two young adults, a man and a woman, sit at a table with snacks and a water bottle, in a room with a TV and a computer. The man is reaching for a snack bag, while the woman looks on.

    Jack Link’s x MrBeast

    In partnership with Jack Link’s Protein Snacks, students explored the power of influencer marketing through the brand’s collaboration with YouTuber MrBeast. Teams analyzed data, measured impact, and built recommendations using Excel, Word, and PowerPoint deliverables — mirroring the work of real marketing analysts. The project challenged students to connect analytics with creativity and strategy.

  • A group of young people, wearing lanyards, listening to a man in a blue shirt speaking inside a retail store that sells clothing.

    Zebra RFID Solution

    In this tech-driven innovation challenge, Global Business and Technology students partnered with Zebra Technologies to tackle a key Walmart eCommerce issue: improving inventory accuracy. After hands-on RFID training, teams explored how advanced tracking could enhance picking, visibility, and the customer experience in stores and Micro Fulfillment Centers. Students then designed wireframes and app prototypes showing how RFID could integrate into retail workflows, presenting a business-ready solution to boost efficiency and unlock new value across the retail ecosystem.

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Our Interns

Each spring, Ignite Global Business students participate in 12–15 week internships that connect classroom learning to real professional work. Students collaborate with businesses and nonprofits across Northwest Arkansas, contributing to meaningful projects in marketing, analytics, operations, strategy, technology, and more.

Internships are not busywork — they are structured, skill-based experiences that challenge students to think critically, communicate professionally, and deliver real value to their host organizations. Students work in the AM, PM, or both cohorts, giving partners flexibility in scheduling and scope. Through these opportunities, students gain confidence, build career readiness, and form mentor relationships that shape their college and career paths.

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Our Certifications

Ignite Global Business students graduate with more than just knowledge — they leave with credentials that open doors. Through partnerships with leading organizations, students earn industry-recognized certifications in tools and systems that power today’s businesses, including Microsoft Excel, PMI Ready, Power BI, Google Data Analytics, HubSpot SEO, HubSpot Sales Hub Software, and Google Digital Marketing & eCommerce.

Each certification represents a milestone in professional readiness — equipping students with technical skills, analytical thinking, and digital fluency that set them apart in college and career.

Our Credits

Through a partnership with NorthWest Arkansas Community College (NWACC), Ignite Global Business students earn three college credits each semester, allowing most graduates to leave the program with 6–12 transferable college credits—all outside the traditional AP or on-campus concurrent paths.

These courses mirror the rigor of college-level business, marketing, and data analytics classes, giving students a real academic edge while still in high school. By blending college credit with real-world experience, Ignite ensures students graduate ready for both higher education and the professional world.

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