Center for Enterprise & Community Engagement

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Center for Enterprise & Community Engagement

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Become a transformative hub building strong connections between students and the Wichita community, benefiting both through business innovation and transformational community impact.

08/31/2026

Meet the new team!

We are excited to get the year started! Introducing our 2026-2027 CECE student leaders.

05/12/2026

Over the past six weeks, CECE student leaders participated in a leadership development experience focused on building the skills, mindset, and self-awareness needed to succeed in both life and the workforce.

Throughout the program, students explored:

Teamwork & collaboration - led by Jenny Grandfield, MBA
Curiosity, Empathy & the Identity of You - led by Austin Calam
Fortitude and Leadership Self-Inventory - led by Damon Young
Purpose, Power & Legacy - led by Tasha Parker, Ph.D., LSCSW, MPA
Resilience and Workforce Preparedness - led by Miss Kansas Emily Rugg

Students were challenged to grow beyond academics by strengthening communication, adaptability, emotional intelligence, and leadership skills through meaningful discussions and reflection. They learned how to navigate adversity, work effectively with others, lead with empathy, and better understand the impact they want to make in their careers and communities.
It was inspiring to watch students gain confidence, deepen their self-awareness, and prepare for the realities of today’s workforce with resilience and purpose.

Thank you to the speakers who invested in the next generation of leaders. The future is in good hands with these students, Sander Fjell, Cole McCreary, Nicholas Foley, William Logan, Grant Waggoner, Kelsie Kinniburgh, Alexa Fonseca, Innslee Albright, and Haley Ziser

05/06/2026

Our students spent the past 16 weeks, partnering with oneCOMMUNITY to tackle one of the most pressing economic challenges in Wichita, childcare.

Through a hands-on, data-driven research project, students analyzed childcare systems across 12 states, examining:
• Market pricing and cost structures
• Regulatory and policy environments
• Employer-sponsored childcare models
• Workforce and economic impacts

What they found is clear: childcare is not just a family issue, it’s a workforce and economic issue. In Wichita alone, childcare shortages are contributing to labor gaps, reduced productivity, and significant economic loss.

This course reflects what experiential learning should look like, students applying business skills to real-world challenges while engaging with community leaders, nonprofits, and industry stakeholders.

Proud of these students, Samantha Jones, Kd Martinez, Grant Waggoner, Innslee Albright, and Bradan Balman for demonstrating:
✔Intellectual courage
✔ Thoughtful, data-informed analysis
✔ A commitment to serving others through business

And grateful to our community partners, Brent Lewis and Sarah Lopez who made this work meaningful and impactful and took time to connect with our students during this project.

05/04/2026

Where relationships are built one swing at a time ⛳️

Last week, our CECE student leaders stepped out of the classroom and onto the driving range for a unique “Business & Golf” experience, where networking, strategy, and mindset all came to life.

From learning the fundamentals of the golf swing to practicing the art of conversation between shots, students discovered how the game of golf mirrors the world of business:
1. Relationship drives opportunities
2. You reveal your character on the course
3. Business is a long game
4. Presence matters

This wasn’t just about golf, it was about confidence, connection, and preparing for real-world business environments where deals and relationships are often built outside the office.

Grateful to Stephen Wegeng, RFMP and Kaela Wegeng (both alumni of Friends University) for the opportunity to create hands-on learning moments that equip students to lead with purpose, on and off the course.

04/15/2026

Proud moment for our CECE Student Leaders 👏

On Monday night, four scholarship students, Sander Fjell, Kelsie Kinniburgh, Grant Waggoner, and Nicholas Foley had the opportunity to present to the Haysville City Council, showcasing the culmination of a four-month, hands-on project focused on community impact and economic development.
Throughout these four months, these students:

• Researched and evaluated the city’s current economic development plan
• Designed and conducted a community survey
• Assessed service needs for a growing population
• Identified top quality-of-life priorities for residents
• Developed an updated economic development plan, including a SWOT analysis, strategic goals, and actionable recommendations

This was more than a class project, it was real-world consulting. Our students stepped into the role of civic leaders, using their skills to provide suggestions to the Haysville community.
We’re incredibly proud of their professionalism, insight, and commitment to the common good. Thank you to the Haysville City Council for the opportunity to partner and invest in the future of your city. A special thank you to Mayor Russ Kessler (a Friends University alumni) and his team, Will Black and Danielle Gabor for taking time to invest in our students.

Address

2100 W. University Avenue
Wichita, KS
67213

Telephone

+13162955829

Website

https://www.friends.edu/academics/resources-support/center-for-enterprise-community-engagement/

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