Millions of viewers around the world got a glimpse of Conway this summer as internet personality Kai Cenat brought his rapidly growing Streamer University to Hendrix College.
Held July 15-20, the six-day event transformed the private liberal arts campus into a hub for digital creators, attracting thousands of visitors in person while generating millions of hours of online viewership. Organizers expanded the event from its inaugural 2025 gathering, welcoming 120 content creators to Hendrix for educational sessions, competitions and collaborations streamed to audiences across the globe.
Highlights included a $100,000 real-life treasure hunt announced by YouTube creator Jimmy “MrBeast” Donaldson and a partnership with Epic Games featuring Fortnite-themed challenges.
According to Streams Charts, roughly 6,000 channels broadcast content related to Streamer University, which generated nearly 57 million hours watched and reached a peak audience of 1.45 million concurrent viewers. The analytics platform reported that the event more than doubled its audience compared with its first year.
For Hendrix College, the event represented an opportunity to introduce both the campus and Arkansas to audiences who may have never heard of either before.
“We brought people to Arkansas, virtually and physically, who’ve never heard of this place before, couldn’t find it on a map,” Hendrix College President Karen Petersen said. “We gave Arkansas and Hendrix unbelievable exposure in places around the world.”
Planning for the event began nearly a year before Streamer University arrived in Conway. Organizers were drawn to Hendrix’s campus, citing its architecture and atmosphere, which many online viewers compared to the world of Harry Potter.
“Hendrix is a place of ‘Yes, let’s make this work for our students,'” Petersen said. “That’s who we are; it’s what we do, and I’m proud of that flexibility. I’m incredibly proud of our team for the hospitality they showed to everyone working here and on behalf of the city of Conway.”
Mayor Bart Castleberry said the collaboration between the college and the city showcased Conway’s strengths to an international audience.
“Our close collaboration with Hendrix captured the pride and can-do sensibility of Conway,” Castleberry said. “Cooperation between City and Hendrix officials made possible this rare opportunity to channel the community’s story and vitality so widely to the world. We’ll see the benefits for Conway, Hendrix, and our region overall for years.”
Students gain hands-on experience
Beyond the online attention, Streamer University also created learning opportunities for Hendrix students working behind the scenes.
Students assisted with technology, logistics, production and event management throughout the week. Some helped produce an NBA-style basketball broadcast attended by league representatives, while others received instruction from professionals operating commercial-grade drone equipment.
The experience aligns with Hendrix’s Via Hendrix initiative, which integrates career preparation throughout the liberal arts curriculum. Beginning with students entering in fall 2026, every Hendrix graduate will complete a required professional work experience before earning a degree.
“The unbeatable combination of the liberal arts and real-world experience is a cornerstone of long-term success,” said Teresa Garrett, executive vice president and provost at Hendrix. “Streamer U gave student workers invaluable sightlines into vibrant fields from information technology to event management.”
Amelia Don, a rising junior majoring in accounting, worked with boom microphones and event operations during the week.
“The best part of this experience, hands down, has been the people I’ve gotten to meet and work with,” Don said. She called it “super encouraging as a student to just see what Hendrix is capable of and what we can continue to be capable of.”
AJ Johnson, a rising sophomore studying psychology and pre-law, helped with logistics, including an ice cream social and cleanup.
“Every single thing has to be set up by hand. None of it is automatic,” Johnson said. “None of it happens on its own, magically.”
Computer science senior Henry Spayde gained experience with network management, camera installation and event production, while rising senior Mary Neyland assisted with logistics throughout the event.
“We’ve had people walking into our admissions building and talking about how they’d never heard of Hendrix, but they looked into it and saw how amazing our school is,” Neyland said.
A growing event
The week concluded July 20 with a live awards ceremony streamed on Cenat’s Twitch and YouTube channels, where he has a combined following of more than 29 million subscribers and followers. Millions of aspiring creators reportedly applied for the opportunity to attend Streamer University before participants were selected through auditions.
This year’s event featured established creators serving as “professors” and mentors, including Cenat, musicians Lizzo and T-Pain, and social media personality Markell Washington.
Participants searched the campus for hidden briefcases containing $10,000 each and competed in Fortnite-themed challenges with brand partnership prizes worth $7,500.
College officials said campus cleanup and restoration would be completed before students return for the fall semester.
For Neyland, the event demonstrated what Hendrix can accomplish on a national stage.
“The fact that we are able to do this, and that we are able to succeed at doing something so big, is amazing,” she said. “I love that because this event was so public, so many people can see what kind of an institution Hendrix is. I hope students can be proud of that.”
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