'Apprentice' winner Randal Pinkett to speak at UNL E-Week April 20

Randal Pinkett, chairman and CEO of BCT Partners and December 2005 winner of NBC's "The Apprentice" with Donald Trump, will give the keynote address at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Engineering's E-Week open house April 20.

Pinkett's presentation will be noon to 1 p.m. at the Nebraska Union Auditorium, 1400 R St. Limited public seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Following his presentation, Pinkett will sign copies of his recently released book, "Campus CEO: The Student Entrepreneur's Guide to Launching a Multimillion-Dollar Business." The book signing will be 1-1:30 p.m. in the Union's Heritage Room.

Pinkett will discuss how as a college student he combined his passions for entrepreneurship and engineering to launch five businesses, most of which have focused on improving access to affordable housing, technology, education and health care in underprivileged communities.

"Randal Pinkett is an example of what is possible when engineering and business intersect," said Stephanie G. Adams, associate dean for undergraduate education in the College of Engineering. "He provides hope and a path for those who come behind him about the role that engineers should play in the creation of not only technology, but wealth."

As the fourth "Apprentice" winner, Pinkett directed renovation of the Trump Entertainment Resorts in Atlantic City, N.J., and supervised information technology projects. He also is a national spokesman for the Trump Institute. Pinkett is a Rhodes scholar and has five degrees: B.S., electrical engineering, Rutgers University; M.S., computer science, University of Oxford; M.S., electrical engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; MBA, MIT; and Ph.D., media arts and sciences, MIT. More information about Pinkett is available at www.randalpinkett.com.

His presentation is sponsored by the College of Engineering, UNL Office of Academic Affairs, University of Nebraska President's Office, J.D. Edwards Honors Program and the Department of Computer Science and Engineering.

A tradition since 1913, E-Week is dedicated to recognizing and rewarding engineers' accomplishments. The E-Week open house is free and includes hands-on activities for children, information sessions for high school students, interactive lab demonstrations and a research fair. For more information, visit www.eweek.unl.edu.

CONTACTS: Ashley Washburn, Communications Specialist, Engineering, (402) 472-0451
David Williams, Asst. Director of Retention, Engineering, (402) 472-8309