Regent University’s Enactus Chapter Advances Past Regional Stage, set to Compete in National Competition

Servant leadership, respect, excellence, and dedication — these aren’t just a random set of virtues, but the core values of Regent University’s Enactus chapter, an organization providing students entrepreneurship opportunities and training.

On March 19, Regent’s Enactus chapter, along with 16 other chapters, successfully advanced past a regional competition in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that involved 34 chapters from universities in the region.

A 16-judge panel examined and assessed each team’s projects based on sustainability, economic outcome, and their positive affect on people.

“Even better than winning is that we had a packed room for our presentation, they are often empty except for judges and the team,” said Dr. Brian Baugus, one of the chapter’s faculty advisors. “We were bold about our Christian beliefs and get to be a witness to about 45 students plus judges and advisors.”

The team will compete with approximately 80 other teams in Enactus’ National competition on May 20 in Kansas City, Missouri.

“It is not the work of any one team member or one project that led to us bringing home a trophy, said the chapter’s president, Cody Fandel ’19 (CAS). “What we asked as the leadership team was for each team member to give their whole heart to these projects and to the communities of which we serve.”

Desiring to turn his lessons from the classroom into real-world experience, Fandel joined the chapter over two years ago, serving as project manager and chief marketing officer before stepping into his current role.

“It’s been a humbling experience, one that teaches you to delegate and trust that team members will deliver,” Fandel said.

After graduation, he intends to pursue opportunities that will let him “use business as an opportunity to serve my customers and my community.”

“Students mistakenly think that Enactus is a ‘business majors’ only club,” said another of the chapter’s faculty advisors, Dr. Kevin Crawford. “But the organization is open to students from all majors who share an interest in transformative power of entrepreneurial action.”

“Enactus is not an organization in which you can just show up to meetings or work events for something to add to your resume,” said Fandel. “It requires innovative thought and a heart for seeing transformation in people, planet, and profit.”