Photo reserved Clinton Global Initiative

Last year Rollins was honored to send three students to the Clinton Global Initiative University conference on creating new, innovative ideas that solve social and environmental issues. This year Rollins is thrilled to be sending a delegation of six students.

This group is made up of some of Rollins best young social entrepreneurs, who have plans in place to improve the world through their own nonprofit startups.  A total of 14 Rollins students applied to the conference, the highest in the schools history. However, CGUI can only accept 1200 students every year, which is why it is so exciting  to have six students coming from a single university.

So, let’s meet this year’s Rollins CGUI Attendees!

NAME: Raghabendra KC
FOCUS: Public Health

K.C. is co-founder of Making Lives Better a student run organization that provides clean drinking water, school supplies, healthcare, and education to children in rural Nepal. This is his second year attending CGIU and he is also our campus rep.

NAME: Michaela O’Driscoll
FOCUS: Education

Every child wants a pen pal. Impoverished children living in Orlando now will have Rollins college students to write and mentor them through a new student organization Rollins Pen Pals lead by this A&S student.

NAME: Emily Sessom
FOCUS: Environmentalism

What if we could build houses, stores and office buildings with limited effect on the environment? That is the idea behind this Rollins senior commitment for impactful environmental change.

NAME: 4Girls
FOCUS: Education

4Girls is a new international organization with aims of empowering young women in impoverished countries through after-school programs. It is led by A&S students Kelsey Uhl, Emmalee Clinger, Shelby McGuire, and Katrina Zdanowicz.

On February 8th and 9th, Rollins College hosted an Ashoka U Faculty Institute. This 2-day event brought together 50 faculty members to discuss ways to teach social entrepreneurship in the college classroom.

Marina Kim, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Ashoka

Why did Rollins staff and faculty decide to take time out of their busy schedules to volunteer to host such an event? Because of the students. According to an on-campus survey, 86% of Rollins students say they want to learn more about social entrepreneurship. Rollins College is also one of 16 universities to be awarded the designation Changemaker Campus from Ashoka U and the first to do so in Florida.

Of the 50 faculty members in attendance, there was representation from a wide variety of disciplines including Anthropology,  Environmental Studies, Economics, Math, Medieval Literature, Chemistry, International Business and Sociology.  Also in attendee was Dr. Max Martin and Marina Kim from Ashoka.  Martin is the Faculty-in-Residence for Ashoka U and Kim is Executive Director and co-fonder with Bill  Drayton.  Rollins Provost Carol Brenahan provided the opening address.

Dr. Max Martin describes social entrepreneurship to a gathering of faculty.

Other highlights from the event included a Social Entrepreneurship Clinic where the floor was opened to questions. Attendees asked a range of questions, from what are some key case-studies their classes should read to what are the best ways to promote self-discovery among students. There were also break-out sessions for various professors and work groups.

“It was a great experience,” said Chrissy Garton, Director of Social Innovation.
“It shows that social entrepreneurship has really taken root at Rollins.”

America’s Business Council’s annual Continuity Forum is based on the premise that continuity, when applied to environmental initiatives and social impact, is exemplified through sustained efforts to improve the greater good. The event gives stage to 40 of the most determined and creative social entrepreneurs. Rollins’ SESi department sent 7 students including Shelby McGuire to attend this year’s conference in Coconut Grove, Florida. Here are her reflections.

I have never heard such insightful speakers, I have never met such ambitious people, and I have never learned quite so much such a short periods of time in my life. Attending the America’s Business Council’s annual Continuity Forum was one of the best academic and personal growth experiences I’ve had.

Bea Perez of the Coca-Cola Company

I think one could safely say that the theme of the forum was “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams”. In every single entrepreneur who presented, the same sense of dedication and confidence was palpable. These entrepreneurs have huge dreams, they want to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, end hunger, and ultimately save the world. Their challenges are daunting but there they were, every one of them, fearlessly proclaiming their solutions. The future, I am certain, is truly theirs.

I had the pleasure to meet many of these ingenious people, however, one woman in particular sticks out I my mind. Her name was Daphne Nederhorst and she is the director of an organization called “Sawa World”, which means “equal world” in Swahili.  She has made great strides in ending poverty in Africa and now looks forward to bringing her organization to South America. She is a very short little woman, but she has an amazingly large personality and spirit. When I was speaking with her she asked me what my plans were and I told her about my CGIU Commitment to Action. She then gave me a piece of advice I know I will treasure for the rest of my life. She said, “If you want to achieve your dreams, be prepared to feel uncomfortable all the time, but don’t let that stop you.” I know, in my life, I have let fear stop me, but I know that if I truly want to accomplish anything, I must persevere through fear.

Jared Cohen, former adviser to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and author

To me, the most inspiring speaker was the very first one, Kofi Annan. He reminds me of a wise old owl, perched far above the world, looking down on the actions of people, watching and understanding. I hope one day to understand the world as he seems to. One of the greatest troubles I have is in understanding my men act the way they do. I feel as if I’m always struggling to find that deeper understanding, that underlying truth. Kofi Annan lays out the problems and solutions of the world in a way that gives me hope for a better future.

I feel extremely privileged to have been able to experience this Forum and have innumerable meaningful experiences beyond those that I have mentioned. I am particularly excited to apply the many lessons I learned to my CGIU Commitment to Action Project. I feel like I now have a clearer understanding of the way to present, organize and measure a social business and its progress. I hope to use this knowledge to give this project more life. However, beyond just this project, I know that the things I learned there will benefit me throughout my life.

Shelby McGuire
From Astor, Florida, Shelby McGuire is majoring in International Relations and minoring in German and Economics. On campus, she shows her love for community service and music through her participation in JUMP and Wind Ensemble and her position at the OCE.

Shelby’s interest area is Politics and Civic Involvement. “Democracy is what makes our country wonderful, but it only works if the people get involved and take the initiative to keep it that way.”