‘Legendary’ UMKC Enactus team earns spot in national entrepreneurship finals
May 9, 2019 | Austin Barnes
The University of Missouri-Kansas City’s Enactus team is the fourth most impactful in the country, declared Ben Williams.
“At UMKC Enactus, we take the world’s greatest challenges into our own hands, channeling our power as students, advocates, and entrepreneurs,” the team told a crowd gathered Tuesday at the Kansas City Convention Center, as they took the stage in the final round of the Enactus U.S. nationals.
University of Missouri-Kansas City’s Enactus team; Photo courtesy of Darcy Howe
“I’m excited with how well the UMKC Enactus team performed, but it is not unexpected considering the trajectory they have been on over the years,” said Williams, managing director of the Regnier Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and Enactus advisor at UMKC.
Students in the UMKC branch of Enactus — a competitive entrepreneurial development program with a 1,000-plus campus and global reach — have finished in the top 32 at the U.S. Nationals for the last four years, Williams explained.
Click here to learn more about Enactus and its mission to promote innovation and entrepreneurship on college campuses.
The competition featured 400 teams, solidifying the significance of the achievement for UMKC, Williams said.
“This team is legendary,” Megan Darnell, program manager at Fountain City Fintech and UMKC Bloch school alum, congratulated the team on Twitter.
In addition to the ranking, members of the UMKC Enactus team secured two individual awards.
Andrea Savage — who also won the UMKC student entrepreneur of the year award in 2018 — was named Enactus USA project leader of the year.
Ali Brandolino, UMKC Enactus vice president of operations, was recognized as Enactus USA membership leader of the year.
A Reverse Pitch Competition — a new track of competition for the team — saw two UMKC Enactus members join forces with four students from other schools to pitch a solution to a challenge presented by the Kansas City Area Development Council, Williams noted.
“These students will be the leaders of the future and we are lucky to be part of their development,” he said.
Austin Barnes
Austin is a growth-focused business strategist with deep roots in media and storytelling. As executive editor, he leads Startland’s revenue generation, partnership strategy, and market expansion— aligning mission-driven journalism with scalable business models.
With over a decade of experience spanning media, brand development, and strategic communications, Austin has helped grow Startland’s reach beyond Kansas City, launching new monetization efforts and driving engagement with more than 700,000 readers each year. His work bridges entrepreneurship, innovation, and sustainable growth —positioning Startland as a national model for community-centered media.
