College Students Win $10,000 For Sparking Business Innovation, Improving Livelihoods and Delivering Meaningful Social Impact

ST. LOUIS, May 18, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The student team from Riverside, California earned $10,000 in prize money and was named the 2016 Enactus United States National Champion Tuesday night at the Enactus United States National Expo presented by The Hershey Company at America's Center in St. Louis, MO. www.enactusunitedstates.org

Hundreds of executives from America's most well-known companies, including Walmart Stores, Inc., KPMG LLP, Unilever, The Coca-Cola Company, BIC Corporation, Schwan's Food Company, Bimbo Bakeries USA and Synchrony Financial, networked with 3,500 college and university students and judged the entrepreneurial projects created and implemented by Enactus teams from 119 colleges and universities that each won regional competitions around the country.

The La Sierra University Enactus team creates projects using their livelihood gap model, which goes beyond a traditional needs assessment, revealing the root causes of the deepest challenges in the target community instead of only the symptoms. For example, with Mobile Fresh, a mobile food bus in Riverside, the team seeks to overcome the area's large food desert, bringing roughly 30 types of fruits and vegetables to 40 different stops. With nearly 1800 customer transactions per month, customers save up to 50% on food costs by not having to travel as far to meet their fresh food needs. Next stop for the team will be to represent the United States alongside 34 other countries at the 2016 Enactus World Cup, Sept. 28-30 in Toronto, Canada.

"Walmart has been a proud partner with Enactus for over 30 years. Enactus provides university students with an experiential learning opportunity that makes a meaningful difference in their communities, while at the same time gaining the experience, skills and contacts necessary to build a successful career and be responsible future community leaders. We believe Enactus students are remarkable talent. I am truly proud of the students and honored to be a part of this year's competition and look forward to seeing how these students continue to enable real human progress through entrepreneurial action," says Mike Moore, EVP/President Supercenters, Walmart Stores, Inc. and Chairman of Enactus United States National Advisory Board's Executive Committee.

National competition began on Monday, May 16 with teams delivering live, multi-media presentations describing their project outcomes to panels of business leaders, specifically on how the team created sustainable impact economically, socially or environmentally by using entrepreneurial action. When they were not competing, Enactus students interviewed for jobs and internships at the Career Fair where recruiters vied aggressively to attract this exceptional talent and in many cases offered jobs on the spot.

"The United States National Exposition convenes business, university and student leaders around a powerful shared purpose – to enable real human progress through entrepreneurial action. Filled with collaboration, competition and celebration, we leave inspired and energized by the great work our student teams are doing to improve livelihoods and communities. Congratulations to our National Champions, La Sierra University Enactus. We are very proud of them, wish them continued success at the Enactus World Cup competition, and thank them for inspiring and motivating us," says Alex Perwich, President, Enactus United States.

The other teams placing in the top four were:

2nd:  John Brown University, Siloam Springs, Arkansas
3rd:   Flagler College, St. Augustine, Florida
4th:   Heritage University, Toppenish, Washington

About Enactus United States

Enactus is a community of student, academic and business leaders committed to using entrepreneurial action to transform lives, improve livelihoods and shape a better, more sustainable world. The organization provides a platform for teams of university students to create innovative projects that put people's own ingenuity and talents at the center of improving their lives, livelihoods and communities. Guided by educators and supported by business leaders, students depart the comfort of the classroom and engage in real world projects to improve the lives of others. For more information, contact Enactus World Headquarters at 417-575-3556 or www.enactusunitedstates.org.

* Enactus United States National Expo photos, video & interviews available

Contact:   

Ellen Langas, NouSoma Communications, Inc. 
Office 610-658-5889, Email

Rachel Mobley, Enactus United States 
417-575-3556, Email

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160518/369159 
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160518/369158

SOURCE Enactus