Enactus CUT celebrated young student leaders involved in valued community engagement with an award ceremony held at the CUT Hotel School on 23 September 2021. The award ceremony was a celebration of the work done by the students who have entrenched themselves in Free State communities, seeking to help improve lives.

Enactus is the world’s largest experiential learning platform dedicated to creating a better world while developing the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders and social innovators. The Enactus network of global business, academic and student leaders are unified by the vision to create a better, more sustainable world. Engaging the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders to use innovation and business principles to improve the world.

Prof. Crispen Chipunza, mentor and Enactus CUT Faculty Advisor congratulated the recipients for their dedication and service. “Enactus is not a charity organisation. We don’t give, we empower. What Enactus students do is incorporated in CUT’s Vision 2030 in terms of shaping the future through innovation, because some of the projects that the students do have got an innovative flair so that they can transform the lives of those that are less fortunate. This year was quite exceptional, there was a new normal, but these students took advantage of that and came up with very innovative projects,” said Prof. Chipunza.

Awards included the Service Leadership Awards which are awarded to the members who have dedicated 100 hours of their time to Enactus work; Beyond The Call of Duty – awarded to the members who have tirelessly assisted the team to complete all required reports and other needed elements that are needed for the team to compete effectively with other teams; Engagement Champions – awarded to the members who have shown commitment in executing the tasks presented to them by the team; Outstanding Service Record – awarded to the members who have served the team for the longest time; and Most Determined Team Player– awarded to the members who have exercised leadership by going an extra mile in ensuring the success of the team.

2020/2021 Enactus CUT President, Sizolwakhe Mtetwa honoured all those involved in the past year who made implementing their initiatives a reality. “This wouldn’t have been possible if we didn’t embrace our values of integrity, passion, innovation and collaboration in all that we do. It wouldn’t have been possible if it weren’t for our board members who were giving us advice on our initiatives and our projects. It wouldn’t have been possible if it weren’t for our faculty advisors who have been with us from day one. And none of this would have been possible if it weren’t for you [students] and I would like to pass these praises to my executive and all the entrepreneurial leaders in this room who have worked tirelessly,” said Mtetwa.

The awards also included the Executive Members Awards - awarded to overall team leadership for the year 2020/2021; Special Awards, awarded to the team leaders who have excelled in specific essentials of the team; Faculty Advisors Awards and Exclusive Awards.

Yanelisa Giyose, the incoming 2021/2022 Enactus CUT President encouraged her fellow students to gear up for an eventful year to come. “Enactus CUT never used to shine in the past, but we have come to the point where we are number three in the country, so for us to uphold this standard and ensure that we become the champions this coming year we need to ensure that everything that we do within the team is done with integrity and quality,” concluded Giyose.

Caption

Ms Maraka Lefera, CUT Lecturer Human Resources Management; Boitumelo Tlou, Special Award Recipient; Prof. Crispen Chipunza, mentor and Enactus CUT Faculty Advisor; Yanelisa Giyose, 2021/2022 Enactus CUT President; Prof. Patient Rambe, Faculty of Management Sciences Research Professor and Sizolwakhe Mtetwa, 2020/2021 Enactus CUT President.