UNG Enactus recognized for community gardening project

Members of University of North Georgia (UNG) Enactus won third place and $3,000 in the national Bright Future Project Accelerator competition. The award was announced at the Enactus USA national conference held May 20-22 in Kansas City, which was attended by students from Enactus chapters on multiple UNG campuses.

Aimed at fostering sustainability, the Bright Future Project Accelerator program asks Enactus teams to devise innovative projects that "apply market-based solutions to reducing food waste, as well as achieving sustainable agriculture, enhancing livelihoods and/or increasing the health and well-bring of communities in the United States," according to the program website.

Led by Olivier Williams, Enactus members on UNG's Gainesville Campus partnered with Gainesville City schools through Interactive Neighborhood for Kids (INK) and Family Promise to teach children how to plant salsa gardens, compost food waste, attract bees, and manage pests in an environmentally friendly manner. Williams is president of the Gainesville Enactus chapter.

UNG is one of 20 Enactus teams across the country participating in Bright Future, which is sponsored by Unilever. All 20 teams received a $1,500 grant to implement their project and the top three teams were selected as national grand prize winners and received additional cash awards.

Also at the national Enactus competition, a group of students from UNG's various Enactus chapters placed third in their league; UNG competed against Texas Wesleyan University, Evangel University, University of New Hampshire at Manchester, Roberts Wesleyan College, and SUNY Oswego.

The national Enactus conference was the culmination of a successful year, said Steven Myung, vice president of the UNG Oconee Enactus team.

"It was a life-changing experience," Myung said. "We all overcame so much and really hit it out of the park. I am so proud of our team."