Enactus Shares Award-Winning Work
Donning sharp black suits, ties and coral scarves, the University of La Verne’s nine Enactus team presenters wowed the campus and surrounding community May 21 with their award-winning presentation on their charitable work during the last year.
The team – 40 members in all – brought home trophies last month from the 2015 Enactus United States National Exposition in St. Louis, Mo. for their 17-minute presentation summarizing their projects. And at La Verne, around 100 people gathered in Campus Center to witness that same presentation. The audience, which included La Verne city officials, rose in a standing ovation.
“You represented the best that we are, the values of the University, the quality of an education, teamwork and helping others,” said University of La Verne President Devorah Lieberman. “You are the future of this country, and on behalf of everybody in this room and your wonderful adviser, we honor you. We thank you.”
Provost Jonathan Reed echoed Lieberman’s praise.
“In 22 years at La Verne, that is the best student presentation I’ve ever seen,” he said.
Team members described the exposition as an invaluable opportunity to network with and impress corporate leaders, two elements that have helped students get offers for high-paying jobs after graduation. Students had attended other conventions, but knew the stakes were high for the Enactus expo.
“Our team this year worked very hard in our preparation for this competition, meeting up for multiple practices every week leading up to it, and our hard work paid off!” said Sarah A. Sartori.
The business administration major’s work with Enactus led to a full-time management position with Schwan Food Company, one of Enactus’ corporate sponsors. Sartori said Schwan reached out to her prior to the St. Louis trip, asking if she would be interested in entering the company’s Leadership Development Program.
She received a job offer after several phone and in-person interviews and is scheduled to start her new position as an Area Associate Manager in Riverside in June.
The conference also led to job opportunities for Melissa Procopio, who said one of the offers was with PepsiCo’s Midwest region.
“We all left the convention with having something great lined up for us after graduation,” Procopio said.
Ashley Isacsson, who is focused on marketing in business administration, expects to hear in the fall whether she landed an 18-month internship with Kraft Foods.
“Such an opportunity will permit me to move across the nation, learn the ins and outs of the business, all while getting paid,” she said.
Jessica Morales is also pursuing an internship opportunity.
“I was one of four students who received the Sam’s Club Summer 2015 Internship, and was able to get on stage to receive my offer,” she said.
Professor of Management and Enactus Adviser Dr. Issam Ghazzawi said the skills Enactus members learn during their entrepreneurial projects are attractive to companies.
“Today’s organizations are looking for those committed employees and committed managers who care about the business, but by the same token, they care about others inside and outside,” he said.
Students visited City of Children orphanage in February to clean up the garden the team planted the previous year, build a greenhouse, prepare more than 550 plants to be placed in the greenhouse and plant 21 fruit trees. The plants will help feed 90 orphans and 15 employees at the site and reduce costs for the organization.
More than 1,000 Pomona Unified School District students in kindergarten through eighth grade, along with their parents, learned about healthy living during workshops presented by La Verne students in November. Nearly all Pomona students and all parents committed to living healthier lives following the workshops.
In the spring and fall of 2014, students taught senior citizens at Hillcrest Homes how to use technological devices such as computers, smartphones and tablets. Students also presented information on cybercrimes and how to avoid becoming a victim.
During the year, students also held a series of job preparation workshops at David and Margaret Youth and Family Services in La Verne. Participants learned resume and cover letter writing, along with interview skills and career options.
In June, 52 students in the 11th grade delved into the business world during La Verne’s 9th annual REACH camp, in which Enactus members served as counselors, mentors and advisors. Students learned during the three-week camp how to develop an idea for a business and how to effectively run it.
