WKU News

The Western Kentucky University Enactus became a Regional Champion at the Atlanta Regional Competition on April 1, 2013. The team will now present its projects at the Enactus National Finals in Kansas City, Mo., May 14-16.

WKU’s Enactus team (formerly Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE)) organized five major local and international projects. These projects empower Burmese refugees to sell hand woven products and learn transactional English; market and sell baskets for the Womans Weavers Cooperatives of Kasagau, Kenya; and develop and build an aquaponics system to grow fish and vegetables with the goal to start a system in Dangriga, Belize.

Additionally, the team was honored as an Enactus 4.0 Club Member in recognition of continuing success in meeting Enactus goals through its local, regional, and world-wide projects.

The Enactus Team Index measures team viability on broad program metrics: Quality Faculty Advisor, Quality Administrative Support, Student Leaders’ Success, Program Success, Financial Stability, Community Engagement, Participating in Enactus Events and Competitive Initiatives, and Competition Results. Each year Enactus recognizes the teams who earn a 4.0 or higher out of a 5.0 scale.

“This year’s team has committed countless hours on its projects to improve the lives of the citizens of Bowling Green and Kasagau, Kenya,” said Sandy Patterson, Sam Walton Fellow and co-advisor to the WKU Enactus Team. “Our 4.0 Award is really a measure of the great support the Team has received from the University, its partners, and the Gordon Ford College of Business, and we are very proud to represent everyone’s contribution.”

The following members traveled to Atlanta: Zach Mattingly, Nicole Johansen, Denise Range, Kelsey Sullivan, Ka Wang Li, D'Andree Logan, Wheeler Painter, Kyle O'Donnell, Kathy Nguyen, Mason Pritchard, Tracie Fathergill, Michael Dile, Will Kotheimer, Brittany Burch, Hillary Clark, Melissa Ackerman, Jeff Thomson, Allan Moreno, Travis Edington, Erin Asher, Victoria Thompson, Jacob Earnhart, Daniel Shaw, and Brendon Dodge. Accompanying the Team were Patterson, J. Krist Schell, Sam Walton Fellow and co-Advisor, and presentation team coach Dalla Emerson of Aramark Corporation.

During the Enactus-sponsored career fair, held during the competition, WKU Enactus team members received four full-time employment and internship offers and multiple interviews with Fortune 1000 firms.

Enactus is a worldwide community of over 60,000 students, academic, and business leaders in 38 countries. Enactus programs on college campuses across the nation apply the positive power of business to develop community outreach projects, transform lives and shape a better, more sustainable world.

For more information about the WKU Enactus team and their projects, visit www.wkusife.org.