Centenary Enactus team places third in nation at 2025 Enactus USA National Exposition
Centenary’s competitive business team presented on the University’s new Institute of Entrepreneurship, which provides professional consulting services to small businesses.
HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (Warren County) — Centenary University’s Enactus team earned third place at the 2025 Enactus USA National Exposition, held recently in Kansas City, Missouri, marking the university’s highest finish under current leadership.
The competition drew student teams from 15 states, highlighting innovative projects aimed at tackling global challenges. Centenary’s showing ties the best finish by a Centenary Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) team, the program’s predecessor, according to Enactus Director Linda Poisseroux, Ph.D.
“This year, three Centenary University teams—Enactus and our IHSA and IDA equine teams—all placed in the top four at national competitions,” said Centenary President Dale Caldwell, Ed.D. “That’s outstanding, especially for a small university facing well-funded schools like Princeton and the University of Wisconsin. Centenary Enactus placed among the country’s best universities—a testament to their hard work and a campus environment that presents exceptional learning opportunities to every student.”
Centenary Enactus members focused their presentation on the Centenary University Institute of Entrepreneurship, founded in spring 2024. The Institute, staffed by students and faculty, provides business development seminars and consulting to small businesses, veterans, women, and others in northwestern New Jersey. In its first year, the Institute directly assisted 533 people and indirectly impacted 180, generating $24,347 in profit through events, sponsorships, fundraising, and grants, according to the 2024-2025 Enactus Annual Report.
Following the finals presentation, team member Alexandra Zeich, a finance major, said the group sensed their historic achievement. “In our hearts we knew that we had placed well. Still, we were one of the smaller schools at the competition, so to be announced in the top three was surreal,” Zeich said.
Other members of the presentation team were Liz Asuncion, Giulianna Falquez, Kayla Sampong, Jasmine Sampong, and MBA student Michael Young. Falquez, who graduated magna cum laude in business administration with a concentration in social media marketing, said: “Having Enactus on my resume is not something that I just write. I will share everything I’ve learned and will apply it in the workforce.”
Poisseroux, who also directs the Institute, credited the program’s professional environment for the team’s success. “There’s a new energy within the Institute, and the feedback our students receive is enriched at a much higher level. Academically, the work I’m seeing from the Enactus team and other students has been elevated—and there’s no better proof than what we accomplished at competition.”
The team also participated for the first time in UPitchNJ, a statewide collegiate business competition, and plans to host the second annual Small Business Summit on Sept. 15 while preparing for next year’s nationals.
