News Article

GRAND FALLS-WINDSOR, NL – The Enactus team at College of the North Atlantic’s (CNA) Grand Falls-Windsor campus has a lot to celebrate.

The team recently participated in the virtual Enactus Regional Exposition and were runner-up in both the Entrepreneurship and Financial Education categories.

Joan Pynn, Campus Director and Enactus coach, says she was happy with the team’s overall results.

“I do not think I can describe how proud I was when the announcements were made – I always tell the students they just need to do the best they can with their projects; that winning, or placing, is just icing. The important thing is the work they are doing in the community and the differences they are making.”
 
Although winning isn’t the only goal of the competition, Pynn says it is proof to the students that they are moving in the right direction.

“I would like to think that the winning/placing provides a validation for our students that they can compete with the best, biggest, and still come out on top,” she said. “They compete in leagues with the biggest colleges and universities in Atlantic Canada for our Regional Exposition – winning something shows them that they absolutely belong in these competitions.”

The team also made it to the semi-finals at the nationals, which means they are one of the top 20 teams in the country, notes Pynn.

Enactus is a non-profit organization dedicated to developing the next generation of entrepreneurs. Pynn has been involved since 2008 and feels it is a great learning opportunity for the students.

“I believe it is extremely important – it is a real form of experiential learning and it helps students to unleash their entrepreneurial spirit and develop skills that gives them a perspective that is essential to leadership in our changing world,” she said.

Although they only have a small team of six members, Pynn says they will accomplish big things in the future.

“Keep an eye out for their names in the years to come as they will become leaders in their various fields – not succeeding is not an option for them. And by succeeding, I do not mean winning awards, I mean persevering and finding a way to solve problems that is innovative – that ability to think outside the box and to come up with their own ideas and being willing to fail on occasion.”

Be the change
Jenna Budgell, the campus’s Enactus team president, is currently enrolled in the Community Leadership Development program and is set to graduate in June 2022.

Originally from King’s Point, NL, she says she was also overjoyed when she found out her team had placed.

“The pride that I felt for my team after Enactus Regional competition 2022 was unbelievable,” she said. “We have worked so hard and have put in so many volunteer hours. This has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, and I have been so happy to be a part of what Enactus is doing.”

Budgell joined Enactus during her first few weeks at CNA feels it is a worthwhile endeavour.

“Enactus is important for so many reasons; it provides a sense of belonging and purpose during a student's post-secondary education,” she explained. “Enactus focuses on concepts that are important for the growth of society, such as financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and climate action. With Enactus, post-secondary students can create real change in their communities and even across the world.”

She’s had such a positive experience with the organization that she is recommending it to others.

“I would encourage any post-secondary student, no matter the institution attended, to become involved in Enactus. Many post-secondary educational institutions have Enactus teams, each with their own unique projects to aid in helping the world. Enactus welcomes all students, from all fields of study.”

For more information about CNA programs, visit www.cna.nl.ca.
 
Media contact:

Ryanne McIsaac
Content Specialist
College of the North Atlantic
709-643-7870
Ryanne.mcisaac@cna.nl.ca