Canisius Enactus Ranks Among Top Three Percent of Teams Nationwide
Canisius Enactus (formerly SIFE) finished among the top 16 teams in the U.S. at the Enactus USA National Exposition held in Kansas City, Missouri from May 21-23.
With 535 active Enactus teams in the U.S., the top 16 result ranks Canisius Enactus economic development programs among the top three percent of community teams nationwide. In addition, Canisius Enactus was selected as a Walmart Women’s Economic Empowerment Project Partnership Finalist and received an award of $1,000.
At each stage of competition, the team made a 17-minute multi-media presentation about their community development programs to a panel of business executives and fielded questions for five minutes. In addition, 19 team members who attended the national exposition attended a career fair hosted by Enactus and sponsored by Robert Half International Inc.
“I commend Canisius Enactus for its impressive achievement on the national level,” says Richard A. Wall, PhD, interim vice president for academic affairs. “In addition to being highly successful at competition, these students embody the Jesuit mission of the college with their community economic development projects.” Such projects include start-up assistance for a Bhutanese grocery store on Buffalo’s West Side and sewing lessons for more than 75 Bhutanese refugees.
The 2012-13 Canisius Enactus team of more than 40 members was represented at competition by the following 10 students:
• Kristin DeRose ’14
• Derrick Geschwender ’14
• Tony Mangiola ’13
• Jacquelyn Luisi ’14
• Timothy Mazurczak ’15
• Thomas Michalewski MBA’13
• Briana Miller ’13
• Ryan Zimmer ’15
“The Canisius Enactus team has demonstrated that with an entrepreneurial approach, dedication, hard work and strategic collaborations, economic development can take place at a grassroots level and change the lives of those in need in our community,” says Patricia Hutton, PhD, professor of economics, Tower Professor and Enactus faculty advisor. Canisius Enactus was founded by Hutton in 2004.
The success of Canisius Enactus economic development projects is due in part to the support and collaboration of many individuals and organizations. This includes:
• Members of its Business Advisory Board; especially Tracy Cooley, program director of Ahowi Focus Group, a non-profit organization for inner-city youth which Canisius Enactus collaborates with in its Youth Entrepreneurship Showcase (YES) program
• Rich Products Corporation, which provided advice and encouragement as well as a forum for the team to present and receive feedback prior to both the regional and national competitions.
• Catholic Charities Refugees Services, which provided classroom and work space for one of its programs
• Antone (Joe) Alber, PhD, dean of the Wehle School of Business, who has provided support and encouragement since the inception of Enactus
• The Tower Professorship, Canisius College Undergraduate Student Association, 43×79 Group, M&T Bank, Walmart, and AT&T (which supports YES at The George K. Arthur Community Center).
Enactus is an international non-profit organization that brings together student, academic and business leaders who are committed to using the power of entrepreneurial action to improve the quality of life and standard of living for people in need. Guided by academic advisors and business experts, the student leaders of Enactus create and implement community empowerment projects around the globe.
Submitted by: Marketing and Communication
