Southwestern College's Enactus team is the recipient of four Enactus Project Grants offered by Enactus USA. 
The SC team has been awarded the AB InBEV Better World grant, sponsored by AB InBev; Uncap Opportunities for Women Project Grant, supported by the Coca-Cola Foundation; the Walmart Women's Economic Empowerment Project Grant; and the Sam's Club Step Up for Small Business Project Grant. 

Faculty advisor Patrick Lee says that this is quite an accomplishment by the Southwestern College Enactus team.

“We were awarded four project grants in our first year as a team. This is a remarkable achievement not only for the students and the Division of Business, but for the entire Moundbuilder community,” Lee says.  “It truly shows what our students can do."

Nolan Smith is the team lead for AB InBEV Better World grant, Tyler Crandall is the team lead for the Sam’s Club Step up for Small Business grant, and Aniefiok Ukim is the team lead for the Walmart Women’s Economic Empowerment and the Uncap Opportunities for Women Project Grant Supported by the Coca-Cola Foundation grant.

“After a conference call with Enactus, we found out that the most competitive grants were the AB InBev Better World (10 available for U.S.-based teams) and the Uncap Opportunities for Women (43 available for U.S.-based teams) of which the SC team secured both,” Lee says.             
According to Enactus USA, the Sam’s Club Step Up for Small Business Project Partnership provides the opportunity for Enactus United States teams to empower at least one small business to strengthen their foundation for long-term success through improved business practices.

The AB InBEV Better World partner project grant is a grant that will help the Southwestern College’s Enactus team design and implement a scalable solution to increase recycling in the community, specifically restaurants, bars and other on-premise businesses in Cowley County.

The Women’s Economic Empowerment Project Partnership is an Enactus program sponsored by the Walmart Foundation that empowers women by providing entrepreneurial training and workforce development through Enactus teams. The need for women’s economic empowerment is evident around the world. Despite the challenges that remain on the front of women’s economic empowerment, Enactus students see this as an opportunity to create value in the lives of women, their families, and their communities. Through the Walmart Women’s Economic Empowerment Project Partnership, Enactus teams work side-by-side with women to empower them with the skills and confidence necessary to succeed in the workforce or their own business.

In addition, the Uncap Opportunities for Women partnership provides Enactus teams opportunity to empower women through collaboration with a community-based organization to evaluate and identify areas of long-term improvement. 

“From our end, the Sam's Club Step Up for Small Business grant will be focused on strengthening the success of The Barns at Timber Creek, specifically adding business cliental and finding ways to improve business during slow months at The Barns. Southwestern College's Enactus Team members will develop and execute a plan to accomplish these goals,” Lee says.  “The Walmart Women's Economic Empowerment and the Uncap Opportunities for Women grant will be focused on developing and further assisting Eagle Nest Inc. in Winfield improving the well-being of women living in poverty. Specifically, the Enactus Team will find ways to develop and enhance programming that will allow Eagle Nest to provide increased entrepreneurial training and workforce development to women in the local community.  The AB InBEV Better World will enable our team to help business in our local community do a better job at recycling items that normally would be headed to the landfill. We have seen a major growth in the recycling and reusing industry and this grant helps us get one step closer to being eco-friendly,” Lee explains.

For more information on activity grant opportunities for students or to learn more how you can be involved visit www.sckans.edu/activities/enactus-team/.  To learn more about Enactus, visit www.enactus.org.