College Students Win $10,000 for Sparking Business Innovation, Improving Livelihoods and Delivering Meaningful Social Impact
National Enactus Championship in Kansas City Goes to John Brown University
KANSAS CITY, Mo., May 24, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The student team from John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, earned $10,000 in prize money and was named the 2017 Enactus United States National Champion Tuesday night at the Enactus United States National Exposition presented by The Hershey Company at the Kansas City Convention Center, Kansas City, MO. www.enactusunitedstates.org
Hundreds of senior executives from America's most well-known companies, including The Hershey Company, Hallmark Cards, Inc., Bimbo Bakeries USA, Post Consumer Brands, Schwan's Food Company, Synchrony Financial, Walmart Stores, Inc., Unilever and KPMG LLP, networked with 1300 college and university students and judged the entrepreneurial projects created and implemented by Enactus teams from 105 colleges and universities that each won regional competitions around the country.
Among the John Brown University Enactus team's diverse portfolio of eleven projects, they focused on sharing with judges the impact of two domestic projects which have made dramatic gains over the last year. Shredify provides jobs and a steady income stream to the members of Siloam Spring's Adult Development Center through the first local, secure document-shredding enterprise for businesses and individuals. Yellow Crate enables local food pantries to send automated requests for donations through an app to individuals in their community at the point-of-purchase. The team has scaled the program in partnership with four other Enactus teams.
Next stop for the team will be to represent the United States alongside 34 other countries at the 2017 Enactus World Cup Sep 26-28 in London, England.
"These students are uniquely prepared for future success," says Dave Hall, president of Hallmark Cards, Inc., City Host sponsor of the Enactus United States National Exposition 2017. "They are socially conscious, business savvy and embody the entrepreneurial spirit. That is a combination you don't find in every college student, and that's what makes them so attractive to a company like Hallmark."
National competition began on Monday, May 22 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 Enactus Career Fair where recruiters vied aggressively to attract this exceptional talent, and in many cases offered jobs on the spot.
"In these three days of competition, celebration and collaboration we've seen amazing life-changing entrepreneurial action projects from 105 teams across this great country," says Alex Perwich, President, Enactus United States. "While students are working hard to impact the lives of others, they are becoming values-driven leaders in the process. We could not be prouder of them as they've inspired us and the hundreds of high-caliber judges they've shared their projects with over the last few days. Congratulations to our National Champions, John Brown University; we wish you continued success at the Enactus World Cup competition."
The other teams placing in the top four were:
2nd: La Sierra University, Riverside, CA
3rd: Roberts Wesleyan College, Rochester, NY
4th: Mount Mercy University, Cedar Rapids, IA
About Enactus
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. 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 protected]
Rachel Mobley, Enactus United States
417-575-3556, [email protected]
SOURCE Enactus United States
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