Four USC Entrepreneurship students received High Distinctions and real-world experience working with a local social media business to support The Player eSports Tournament to be held this Saturday 16 December at Maroochydore.

Matthew Wingard of Maroochydore, Julia White of Yandina Creek, Eva Messalti of Sippy Downs and Chris Jolly of Maryborough volunteered their planning skills to Social Media Mastery as part of their USC subject, New Venture Operation.

USC Senior Lecturer in Entrepreneurship and Innovation Dr Retha de Villiers Scheepers said USC students across the course worked with a variety of local startup and small businesses to put the theory they had learned into practice.

“The group who worked on the eSports event helped deliver a website and Facebook page, marketing analysis, run sheet, grant application assistance, logo development, logistical planning, market research and budget,” Dr de Villiers Scheepers said.

Lisa Harrison of Social Media Mastery said the University students’ assistance was invaluable for the event, to be held from 10am to 3pm at The Hive Business Space.

“This community event, supported by SunnyKids charity, will entertain and challenge youths aged 14 to 17 these school holidays, encouraging their skills in coding, artificial intelligence and virtual reality,” Ms Harrison said.

She said it would encourage teenagers to socialise face-to-face while playing computer console games such as Fifa, Project Cars and Rocket League.

— Julie Schomberg