Drury, MSU Enactus teams headed to nationals

The Enactus teams of Drury and Missouri State universities have qualified for the 2013 nationals, a step on the road toward the Springfield-based organization's World Cup.

Enactus - formerly Students in Free Enterprise until a late 2012 name change - is hosting its 2013 U.S. National Exposition May 21-23 in Kansas City, according to a news release. Teams compete by showcasing the results of entrepreneurial efforts to produce community outreach projects.

Drury was named a regional champion during an April 17 competition in Rogers, Ark., while MSU took regional honors during an April 12 competition in Chicago.

The qualification marks the 16th consecutive year Drury's Enactus team has made nationals. The team won nationals in 2001, 2003 and 2005, and went on to win the World Cup in 2001 and 2003, according to a release.

Drury Enactus Director Kaitlyn Vaughan said the team's projects to be presented at nationals are Project Source, a corporate responsbility project with Edward Jones Investments for completing service projects addressing worldwide needs; EcoScore, a mobile application created for Apple devices created to assist area residents in measuring water usage; and Art Inspired, a program created via an Abilities First grant whereby the Enactus team created a business in downtown Springfield to help people with development disabilities gain employment.

During the Chicago competition, the MSU team also was named an Enactus 4.0 Club member, recognizing the team's projects based on quality, Enactus success and long-term sustainability.

According to MissouriState.edu, the school's Enactus team has worked on projects including the Business Entrepreneurs Education Program, which allowed local businesses to receive aide with marketing; Entrepreneurs Reaching Citizens, an after-school program for children at the Greene County Alternative Detention Center; and the Overseas Coupon Program, which allows military personnel at the US Army base in Okinawa, Japan, to receive grocery coupons.

The Enactus World Cup is scheduled Sept. 29-Oct. 1 in Cancun, Mexico.