Interested in helping others and meeting new people?
Wilkes University’s Enactus is that and more. It provides experience and connections to all of its members.
In its 21st year, Enactus’ mission is “to help improve life for local business owners within the community,” said Bridget Turel, business professor and club adviser.
Prior to being called Enactus, the club was known as SIFE (Students in Free Enterprise).
The purpose of the club is to put community first by doing specific projects. The projects are powered by grants given to Enactus through partners in order to execute their mission.
A total of $4,500 was given to the club this year to help accomplish projects and make an impact.
One project that members are involved in is Women’s Economic Empowerment, which targets Ruth’s Place in downtown Wilkes-Barre. To power this project, a $1,500 grant supported by Coca-Cola was provided. The project is to work with the women’s shelter and provide professional training sessions and financial support brought within by the students.
Turel, who took over the reins shortly after 2010, is more than proud to lead this club and make an impact in the community.
“There has been a long legacy here and in the last couple of years there has been success,” Turel said.
This success is not only shown throughout our community but also at the national stage in competition.
Every spring the Wilkes Enactus club treks to St. Louis, Missouri, to compete against more than 400 teams from other universities across the nation. The competition is based solely off of the presentations the students give on the projects they did throughout the year.
The club has done extremely well at recent competitions. In fact, last spring the club was recognized as a finalist in the opening round of competition, moving on to the quarterfinal, which they were crowned third place.
Jamie Seyler, a junior, and current vice president of recruitment, says the club has benefited her by “the experience and networking”. Last fall, Seyler spoke with representatives from Home Depot and Kraft at a conference in Chicago.
If interested, the club meets at 11 a.m. every Tuesday in UCOM 231.