Enactus’ Fall Burn Hosts Professionals

By Melissa Shephard
Campus Writer

Last night, professionals gathered on Graceland’s Lamoni campus to talk to students about the path to success at Entrepreneurial Action Us’ (Enactus, formerly known as the Students in Free Enterprise, or SIFE), annual Fall Burn. Fall Burn, named metaphorically to reflect the process of land rejuvenation when farmers burn fields in the fall, is planned to motivate and excite students, while emphasizing career exploration.

The night began with question and answer panels, where more than 30 professionals from different academic areas–education, business and the humanities–talked with students about finding their personal paths to success.

“Our question and answer sessions are designed to help students discover their own, personal path to success. We want to help them find a balanced life after Graceland,” said Justin Akers, Director of the Sandage Center for the Study of Free Enterprise and Entrepreneurship and Graceland Enactus Director.

After the panel discussions, students networked with professionals before keynote speaker Amy L. Hough ’96 spoke in the Shaw Family Auditorium. Hough talked about her experience working as International Branding & Profiling Director for Essense Designs, a fashion design house that creates bridal labels. She gave students a number of “life tips” from her experiences interviewing and hiring young professionals.

“Amy was really engaging and she really made you walk away with a challenge. She motivated us to start thinking about the future now and preparing ourselves for the workplace,” said Antonia Davidson ’14.