Submitted Photo Enactus students with Dr. Susan McNamara at The Art Market on Main Street in Fredonia.

The State University at Fredonia’s Enactus chapter capped an academic year filled with community engagement and numerous pivots due to the distance education transition with its selection as one of 43 Enactus teams in the United States to be judged by a select panel of executive leaders from major companies.

Enactus teams were eligible to compete for the evaluation based on how effectively they demonstrate entrepreneurial leadership during the past year to drive business and innovation for sustainable, positive impact to benefit people, the planet and prosperity. A total of 285 teams from across the country were eligible to compete for evaluation.

Each year, Enactus assembles business executives who have track records of successfully bringing concepts to reality. They are drawn from businesses that demonstrate corporate social responsibility, which indicates the corporation is conscious of the kind of impact it is having on all aspects of society, including economic, social and environmental factors. Enactus shares this value.

Executives who served as judges were from BIC, The Boston Consulting Group, Ford Motor Company, Google and Walgreens, among others.

SUNY Fredonia’s Enactus chapter won many recognitions

Emily Matson, a senior majoring in accounting, was a semifinalist for Executive of the Year among students from more than 300 colleges in the United States.

The SUNY Fredonia team as a whole received the Excellence in Community Engagement Award in recognition of its focus on empowering their community through its project work.

“Fredonia’s project work is rooted in the identification of their community’s needs. They are passionate about empowering the people around them, and they do so very successfully,” said School of Business Associate Professor Susan McNamara, Enactus advisor.

E.D.G.E. Consulting, a division of the Fredonia Enactus team that serves startups, created a business model that culminated in the opening of The Art Market on Main Street in Fredonia. In five weeks, the non-profit art gallery went from an idea on paper to an opening reception attended by more than 250 people.

Assistance in the form of business planning, and marketing and operations was provided to numerous businesses that included Om Nohm Gluten Free Bakery, Bring Your Own Winery, J&E Laundry, Otra Vez and The Barn. Students also worked with Chautauqua County Rural Ministry on hydroponic growing and the Girls Scouts to mentor young women by teaching leadership and entrepreneurship.

The Enactus chapter has over 80 students who represent 22 different majors. Student members provided over 4,000 of service during the academic year.