The Southwestern College Enactus team was the top team in the nation in the Enactus USA 2017 Robert W. Plaster Free Enterprise Challenge for their work in the Moundbuilder Market. 

The award was announced Tuesday at the 2017 Enactus USA National Recognition in Kansas City, and comes with a trophy and $10,000 prize for use by the team for continued growth within their Enactus program and projects. This is the largest monetary awarded challenge Enactus USA presents to a team annually. 

“The Robert W. Plaster Free Enterprise Challenge recognize teams that have a business venture project that implements entrepreneurial activities to increase profit margins,” says Patrick Lee, Enactus team advisor.

The Moundbuilder Market, which sells branded apparel and other Southwestern College items, was taken over by the SC Enactus team in August 2015. Since then the group has created a business model that is both sustainable in nature and profit driven. Enactus team members manage the enterprise, creating practicum opportunities for SC business, accounting, and sports management majors. 

The store is managed by Uly Cisneros (junior majoring in business, Rowlett, Texas) and Christian Gordon (junior majoring in accounting, Yukon, Okla.). In addition Chase Carr (junior majoring in accounting, Bixby, Okla.) manages event sales for the market.

“It's exciting to see a team go from nothing in 2014 to becoming a nationally-recognized team in just three years,” Lee says.  “This is the first nationally-awarded challenge to Southwestern College Enactus team.”