DENTON —Texas Woman’s University’s Enactus team advanced to the semi-final round in the Enactus USA national competition in St. Louis May 15-17, placing the team in the top 20 in the U.S.
Enactus is an international non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring students to improve the world through entrepreneurial action.
The TWU team won the quarterfinal in the national competition for the first time in its history during a competition that started with more than 430 teams from across the nation. TWU placed ahead of teams from the University of Houston, the University of Wisconsin, Drury University, the University of Florida, Syracuse University, the University of Virginia and many more public and private universities.
“National competition was an affirmation for all of the hard work our Enactus students have done all year,” said the team’s adviser David Rylander, TWU professor of marketing and Sam Walton Fellow. “They dedicated themselves to making a real difference in the lives of others, and the competition team put a great deal of effort into making an excellent professional presentation of the impact we have made.”
During the national competition, TWU Enactus presented on projects that team members have been working on for the academic year — providing help for homeless people and veterans in Denton, supporting a local small business, educating children and college students on financial literacy and nutrition, and continuing a legacy project helping people in a small village in Belize.
“Enactus has provided me with the unique opportunity to make a change in my community through entrepreneurial action,” said TWU Enactus team member Michelle Gonnet, a junior marketing major from Mesquite, Texas. “[The Enactus} competition is the culmination of a successful year of showcasing our projects and receiving feedback from those in higher ranks on how to continue growing.”
Gonnet added, “The opportunity to network with these business executives is an exceptional opportunity to learn how to carry myself in the professional world.”
The TWU team was named a regional champion in Dallas April 4 to advance to the national competition along with the University of Texas, the University of Houston and Texas Wesleyan University. TWU’s team won regionals for the 11th time in 16 years.
Competition team presenter members are:
- Juan Armijo, a junior business management major from Dallas;
- Stephanie Avila, a senior accounting major from Denton;
- Erin Engel, a junior finance and marketing major from Hickory Creek;
- Alyssa Gaynor, a junior math major from Torrance, California;
- Michelle Gonnet, a junior marketing major from Mesquite; and
- Jesse Malone, a junior marketing major from Hurst.
Competition team support members are:
- Cristina Barron, a senior graphic design major from Carrollton;
- Selena Garcia, a sophomore accounting and marketing major from Dallas;
- David Garza, a junior human resource management major from Lewisville;
- Naomi McDowell, a senior, business entrepreneurship major from Duncanville;
- Citlalli Rodriguez, a senior marketing major from Mesquite; and
- Jasmine Smith a junior biology major from Round Rock.
Sherrie Taylor, TWU senior lecturer emerita, served as the TWU Enactus Business Advisory Team president. Rylander served as the team’s adviser.
