Established less than three years ago, the University of the Ozarks’ student-led Entrepreneurship Club is already making a big impact on campus.
The club recently was named “Organization of the Year” during the Leadership Banquet hosted by Student Engagement last week. The organization also won “Best All-Campus Event of the Year” and Vice President Carlissa Colebrook was named “Officer of the Year.”
The club is comprised of members, President Gustavo Alejandro Lugo Medrano, a sophomore from Diriamba, Nicaragua; Colebrook, a senior from Nassau, The Bahamas; Secretary Diana Jyham Fernandez, a junior from Guaimaca, Honduras; Treasurer Alexandra Melgar, a sophomore from Panama City, Panama; and Program Director Nataly Paulina Vindas Calderón, a freshman from Sabalito, Costa Rica. The advisor is Dr. Christine Scott, associate professor of business.
Alumnus Devis Garces, who established the Entrepreneurship Club in 2020, returned to campus for the Leadership Banquet and was able to celebrate the club’s success with its current members.
The club’s mission statement reads, “We aim to be a diverse student-led club with passionate people about entrepreneurship and with a strong desire to undertake projects. We create activities to empower all our members with the set of strategies and procedures that helps them start their business.”
Vindas Calderón said the primary objective of the Entrepreneurship Club is to “cultivate a dynamic and supportive environment that nurtures an entrepreneurial mindset and fosters a sense of community among our members. By empowering aspiring entrepreneurs to pursue their innovative ideas and ventures, this club aims to equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge to transform their visions into successful startups.”
The club hosted several events throughout the year, including a speaker series that was named the best all-campus event of the year at the banquet. The series brought in such speakers as alumna Falon Brueckner, owner of Shine Yoga Studio, and Esperanza Massana, director of the Arkansas Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Division and a former Walton Scholar. Also taking part in the series were Jeff Amerine, founder of Startup Junkie Consulting, and Clint O’Neal, executive director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission.
“By being part of the E-Club, members can gain skills and knowledge and have access to network opportunities that will help them to succeed in their entrepreneurial endeavors,” Vindas Calderón. “Through the community, networking opportunities, and resources offered by the organization, members can develop a deeper understanding of entrepreneurship and gain practical experience in applying these skills in real-world situations. All students, regardless of the major they are studying, can find helpful our activities if they are interested in entrepreneurship.”
Topics: About, Student Life, Student Organizations