Regent University Wins Second Place at Enactus United States National Exposition
VIRGINIA BEACH, VA (May 18, 2021) – In April 2021, Regent University’s Enactus team placed second in their league at the Enactus United States National Exposition for their lifesaving project “Healthy League.” The award is Regent’s best showing in their 23-year history of the expo and the first time the school’s Enactus team won prize money at the national level.
“We are so proud of our Enactus Team. They embody the values of our business programs: entrepreneurial, practical, and theologically engaged,” said Regent’s College of Arts & Sciences dean Joshua McMullen, Ph.D. “This team came together and applied creative solutions to real-life problems. They are truly world changers.”
Each year, the Enactus United States National Exposition brings students from around the country together to present their projects and demonstrate how entrepreneurial action and innovation are helping to transform lives and create a better future.
“Enactus is a unique program here at Regent where the students are in charge. It’s a campus club, internship opportunity, and entrepreneurial start-up all rolled into one,” said Dr. Brian Baugus, associate professor of economics in the Department of Business, Leadership & Management for the College of Arts & Sciences.
Baugus, who serves as the Enactus Sam Walton Fellow for Regent for his lead advisory role in the program, explained that teams plan projects in the spring, finalizing them in the early weeks of the fall semester. “The students pick the projects, organize the work teams, interface with community partners and, in a real sense, create their own organization to achieve their objectives.”
The 2021 Enactus Expo, which was moved to an online format due to COVID concerns, included 30 competitive teams randomly divided into different leagues. Regent competed in a league of six teams, placing second in their company, and won $350 to be used to fund their project further next semester.
Regent’s 30+ Enactus team members worked on four projects this year—the most ongoing projects the club has had. They started preparing for competition in January, choosing to submit their preventative hookworm initiative in Haiti called “Healthy League” for the competition—led by Regent’s Enactus Project Manager Cassandra Hansen (CAS’ 21).
Like many underdeveloped countries, Haiti is plagued with hookworms. According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, over 73% of Haitian children were infected with hookworms in 2002. The disease is fatal because if the hookworm remains in the system for too long, it can cause its carrier to develop anemia and further creates a severe decrease in plasma.
“Healthy League uses entertainment education to prevent hookworm in Haiti. Delivered in the form of a comic book and animation we developed, the messaging teaches children good hygiene practices that defend against hookworm,” explained Jocelyn Lee (CAS ’22), Enactus president for Regent (2020-21 term).
Additionally, the Enactus team worked with Because International to create a resource to accompany their Shoe That Grows and explained how to use the shoes for protection against these parasites. This partnership and the project materials help create a long-term, sustainable solution to hookworm prevention. Children who learn about these issues can pass their knowledge onto future generations.
The presentation carried a broader message too with the purpose-driven philosophy that Regent students are known for: “At Regent University, we seek new and innovative ways to empower future generations to promote change. We believe that knowledge empowers the path to change, creating steps to a healthier future. Our hope is to be the boots to the ground to lead the charge in establishing an empowered world.”
“This experience has been so beneficial for me … making real, tangible differences in people’s lives around the world, instead of just learning or talking about how to make a difference,” said Lee. “Learning how to think entrepreneurially—to actually be effective—is key to Christian Leadership to Change the World.”
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About Regent University
Founded in 1977, Regent University is America’s premier Christian university with over 11,000 students online and on campus in Virginia Beach, VA. The university offers associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in more than 150 areas of study, including business, communication and the arts, cybersecurity and technology, divinity, education, government, law, leadership, nursing and healthcare, and psychology. Regent University tops the list of Best Online Bachelor’s Programs in Virginia and is ranked among top national universities by U.S. News & World Report. Along with a commitment to academic excellence, what sets Regent apart is its mission to prepare Christian leaders to change the world.
About Enactus
Enactus is the world’s largest experiential learning platform and dedicated to creating a better world while developing the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders and social innovators. The Enactus United States National Exposition is an event where teams showcase the collective impact of their community outreach efforts. Students present their projects and are evaluated by business leaders serving as judges who rank them on how successful they were at using business concepts to improve the quality of life and standard of living for those in need. The winners of these national competitions are then invited to compete at the Enactus World Cup. For more information, visit enactus.org.
