Student entrepreneurs from Okanagan College delivered an outstanding performance at the recent regional competition hosted by Enactus Canada March 12 and 13 in Vancouver, earning two first-place finishes and one second-place finish across three National Impact Challenge categories.
From left: Devin Rubadeau (Faculty Advisor) and students Jamie Hatch, Anna Borysova, Jai Adriel, Jalen Davies and Chelsey Simmons.
The results place Okanagan College among the top-performing teams in Western Canada and will see two teams advance to the Enactus Canada National Exposition in Montreal this May, where they will compete against the best university and college teams from across the country.
"These results represent months of dedication, creativity, and collaboration from our students," said Michaela Dew, Student President of Enactus Okanagan College. "What makes Enactus so special is that our students are not just developing ideas -- they are building real ventures that create meaningful environmental and social impact in our communities. I am incredibly proud of the work our teams have accomplished."
Three projects took centre stage at the post-secondary school competition, featuring students from across Canada.
- Students Jalen Davies, Jai Joaquin, Anna Borysova and Jamie Hatch earned first place in the Innovation and Impact Challenge with their venture Paper Trail, a student-led social enterprise focused on reducing paper waste. The project diverts old textbooks that cannot be recycled from landfills and transforms them into Fire Bricks -- lightweight, weatherproof, eco-friendly fire starters.
The venture was originally created by student entrepreneurs Luke Howe, Chelsey Simmons, Jalen Davies and Jai Joaquin, and it continues to grow as a project focused on turning waste into an environmentally responsible product for households and outdoor recreation. The team was coached by faculty member Devin Rubadeau.
- In the Environmental Sustainability Challenge, students Mackenzie Friesen, Gilian Deang, Agam Aujla and Grayden Portman also captured first place, presenting the environmental impact of the Paper Trail Fire Brick initiative. Their presentation demonstrated how innovative student-led ventures can divert significant volumes of paper waste from landfills while creating a practical and sustainable consumer product. The team was coached by faculty member Danielle Robinson.
- Students Liam Birnie, Nerilynn Leira Reyes, Matthew Huston, David Simmons and Eric Turchyn earned second place in the Community Empowerment Challenge with their project Gotta Lotta Terracotta, a social enterprise that connects Okanagan College students with local seniors to create and sell hand-painted terracotta artwork.
The initiative promotes intergenerational connection, creativity and community engagement while generating revenue through the sale of locally produced art. The team was coached by faculty members Todd Gillick and Robert Ryan.
"The success of our Enactus students demonstrates what is possible when entrepreneurial thinking is combined with a commitment to community and environmental impact," said Joe Baker, dean of the Hall School of Business and Entrepreneurship at Okanagan College. "These students are building real ventures that address real problems, and we are incredibly proud to see them represent Okanagan College and Western Canada on the national stage."
To learn more about Enactus Okanagan College, visit enactusoc.ca. For more information about the Hall School of Business and Entrepreneurship at Okanagan College, go to okanagancollege.ca/business.
