National recognition
Local NSCC students win award in Vancouver for series of projects aimed at empowering lives in the community
As one of the newest teams from one of the smallest schools represented at the Enactus Canada National Exposition earlier this month, Nova Scotia Community College students from the Pictou campus were thrilled to be recognized for their work.
The local students competed in two categories at the country-wide competition, which provides a forum for Enactus teams to present the results of their community empowerment projects.
They earned their way there after winning the Scotiabank Youth Empowerment Challenge at the Atlantic Canada regional exposition in March.
At the national exposition, the local team won the Spirit of Enactus award, presented to teams that have demonstrated great impact in their community, although they may have not yet produced finished results.
“It’s meant to recognize upand-comers,” said Anne McDonah, one of two faculty advisers and 10 student members of the NSCC team who travelled to Vancouver for the exposition.
Two teams consisting of five students each made the presentations.
The spirit award was given for the national competition presentation that outlined three projects and two events undertaken by the team this year. These include the Raising the Roots project – establishing a garden at the Roots for Youth House to provide youth staying there with fresh produce – presenting a series of financial literacy workshops for women at the NSCC campus, partnering with Summer
Street Industries to prepare and distribute healthy meals for seniors, organizing a career fair, and holding a breastfeeding event in partnership with nursing students.
The Enactus team was also among the top seven teams out of 51 in the Scotiabank Youth Empowerment Challenge at the national exposition. They made it to the final round – where they competed against other much larger post-secondary institutions with larger teams, such as Saint Mary’s University, Simon Fraser University and Ryerson University – with a presentation about the Raising the Roots garden project. Memorial University of Newfoundland won for their social enterprise that tackles fresh food accessibility in Canada’s far north.
Team member Emma Spaulding, who will serve as the local NSCC’s Enactus president during the next school year, said it was gratifying to be recognized for their efforts, and competing against larger schools was extraordinary.
“It was incredible because it’s only our first full year as a team,” she said.
The social services student, who lives in New Glasgow, said winning the spirit award was acknowledgment of their enthusiasm and dedication to the community and the project.
“We have one of the smaller teams, so to be able to go up against one of biggest teams was incredible to us,” she said. “Even though we didn’t win first, second or third, all of our projects were still recognized.”
In a testimonial, team member Bethany Ripoll said the experience in Vancouver brought the team closer together, and gave members more confidence.
“Listening to the other schools’ ideas through presentations were very inspiring and eye-opening as to how large of an impact we can make on the world. Although our team is small, we are strong and I can’t wait to continue making an impact on our community with them,” said the New Glasgow resident.
“There’s a special feeling you get when you look into someone’s eyes knowing you’ve helped them, that sends chills throughout your entire body. Being involved in Enactus gives you that feeling over and over again. It’s an extremely humbling organization to be involved in, and is constantly reminding you how lucky you are. We’re not just doing one good thing for someone and leaving it be, we’re continuously changing people’s lives for the better.”
McDonah said the national exposition was life changing for the students.
“They’re all post-secondary students who are trying to make a difference in the world,” she said. “The energy is just unbelievable. They’re doing all these amazing things – they’re all positive people – it’s a really, really good experience.