As seen in the spring 2025 Ivy magazine.
For Joshua King, a highly driven sophomore from Bellevue, Nebraska, making the most of his time at Iowa State University means leaving a lasting impact on his community.
Studying finance, management, and entrepreneurship at the Ivy College of Business, King’s academic schedule is busier than most. Nonetheless, King uses his little free time to get involved at the Ivy College of Business and in the community.
Getting involved
In just his first year, King was appointed vice president of the Multicultural Business Network and joined the Chi Alpha Campus Ministries and the Black Men Coalition as a member. He was also appointed director of outreach for the Black Student Alliance, where his primary goal is to create opportunities that enhance the college experience for those pursuing higher education.
King took to social media to share the success of his first milestone in his director of outreach position.
“I had the privilege of organizing and managing a trip for our Black Student Alliance and Freshman Action Team to attend the Iowa Wolves Black Excellence Night,” King wrote. “This event provided an amazing opportunity for students – both freshmen and upperclassmen – to connect and experience life beyond campus, all while fostering community and social engagement.”
Adding to his organizational involvement, King has begun his journey in various entrepreneurial and community-building ventures. One idea that King has had since his youth is Enoch Financial, a company geared toward teaching members of low-income areas about financial literacy and how to get out of debt.
“This idea was burning in my heart to get started, so I reached out to the Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship to learn how I could go about growing my idea,” said King. “They expressed to me that the fall Startup Pitch Competition was coming up in less than three weeks and provided me with everything I needed to know about it.”
While the added challenge of having a shorter preparation time than his peers left King feeling a bit uneasy, he decided not to let the opportunity pass and immersed himself in the resources made available. With the help of a diligent work ethic, strong confidence in his idea, and steady encouragement from Judi Eyles, director of the Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship, King delivered an incredible presentation and received the session’s first-place prize.
“I had confidence all along that Joshua would do a great job, and he did!” said Eyles. “Joshua’s enthusiasm and business acumen will be huge assets as he advances in his career.”
Building off the success of this venture, King co-founded the organization JCT Community Builders alongside his colleagues Cadence McDowell, a sophomore from Davenport, Iowa, studying finance and management, and Tyler Lattimore, a former student from Blaine, Minnesota. Stemming from King’s desire to leave a lasting impact through service, the organization’s mission is to unite students across campuses to support important causes in different communities.
“Wherever I can make a difference and where my skills are the best used is where I’ll be!”
— Joshua King, sophmore
For JCT Community Builders’ first endeavor, the organization hosted its inaugural seven-on-seven football tournament at Iowa State’s campus. The fundraiser event aimed to raise funds for the Central Iowa Boys and Girls Club.
“During the event development process, it was very simple to get everything together with Joshua not only being one of my classmates, but also one of my good friends,” said McDowell. “He was able to provide me with any updates to the plan and made the entire process very straightforward. In the future, I hope that we can band together and do something like this again!”
With the help of the Iowa State Interfraternity Council and his team, King’s aspirations came to life with great success. Hosting more than 16 teams from Iowa and Nebraska, the event raised over $1,000 for a meaningful cause.
“From all the feedback we received, everyone had an incredible experience and are beyond excited for it to return next year,” said King. “My team and I are truly thankful for those who supported our vision and helped participate in the construction of it, along with the programming. We are beyond grateful we were able to foster a new event and bring those from different walks of life together to create a change.”
What’s next
Despite the many different pursuits taken on in the short time he’s been at Iowa State, King has gone above and beyond in all areas of his life. In addition to the success reached in his early ventures, he has excelled academically, maintaining a perfect GPA as an International Baccalaureate and National Horatio Alger Scholar.
King’s dedication to everything he does and the inspiring results he’s already achieved generate a palpable excitement for his future. This summer, King will join Principal Financial Group as a financial analyst intern in Des Moines, Iowa. He hopes to continue to create an impact with them and looks forward to making a difference in the company however he can.
“Moving forward, only God knows what is next. What I am certain of is that I am committed to success for myself, my family, and my community, and I look forward to continuing an amazing relationship with the Ivy College of Business and Iowa State as a whole. I am here to help and use my talents for the better.”
To connect with Joshua King or follow his collegiate and professional journey, visit his LinkedIn profile.
Make a difference
Learn how you can make a difference—just like Joshua—by getting involved in student organizations at Iowa State University.
