The UMKC Enactus team placed 2nd in their league and exited the 2021 Enactus USA National Competition in the top 8 teams in the country out of more than 300 teams in the U.S.

The team spent the year focused on global impacts with multiple social entrepreneurship projects, even in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic gripping our region and the world.

“It has truly been an incredible year,” said Ali Brandolino, Enactus team president. “This finish is motivating our team to find more needs and impact more people in our community and communities world-wide. It has been exciting to watch each member light up with passion when discussing innovative solutions to problems many people face every day. I will never forget what UMKC Enactus was able to accomplish during the year of the pandemic.”

The team’s achievements this year include:

• Maintained a vibrant student organization virtually, with a roster of almost 100 members
• Finalist for 2021 TCU Values and Ventures Completion, a premier national social entrepreneurship competition
• Top 48 team in in the world in the Race to Rethink Plastics – a global challenge sponsored by Coca-Cola, Dell and Hi-Cone to motivate students think about ways to reduce plastic waste in the environment
• Diverted 471 pounds of plastic through the Generation Green project and a partnership with Shatto Milk Company
• Supported artisans in Oaxaca, Mexico
• Raised thousands of dollars toward educational facilities for Ogwuokwu Community School in Ogwuokwu, Nigeria
• Developed new student-led fundraising campaigns that have brought in thousands of dollars to support team activities
• Held a virtual reverse pitch event with community leaders
• Served the community as a Rotaract team
• Maintained COVID-safe projects and interactions

Several students also won individual awards. Drew Childs won the $10,000 Jules and Gwen Knapp Scholarship. This is the second year in a row this honor went to a UMKC student. Hannah Case was recognized as a finalist for the Project Leader of the Year Award for being among the top 3 most impactful project leaders nationally. The team also won the $1,500 Jack Shewmaker Enactus Spirit Award for this student-produced video.

You can view the online expo and the team’s awards announcements online.