2017 Ashoka Exchange Scholarship Recipients

The Ashoka U Exchange is an annual conference that gathers students, educators and leaders in social entrepreneurship from around the world. The conference is designed to bring these minds together to discuss the importance of social innovation on college campuses and consider how best to lead and support upcoming innovators. 

 This year, the Social Entrepreneurship Initiative at the Institute for Nonprofits was able to provide scholarship funding for two students to attend the conference!

Andi Gibbs, a senior in International Studies, and Kristin Caddick, a junior in Environmental Studies were chosen after submitting short essays on why they felt attending the conference would be of value to them during their time at NC State. Both students are Caldwell Fellows with hopeful visions for the future of social entrepreneurship. 

Institute staff members Christine Howell and Elizabeth Benefield will host the scholarship recipients at the conference. Throughout the exchange the NC State group will attend dynamic and interactive workshops, listen to keynote speakers, go on site visits, explore the city of Miami and more! 

While Andi is looking forward to getting a fresh outlook on social entrepreneurship through her discussions with the diverse community of participants,  Kristin is most excited about a site visit to a local sustainable community. Both recipients are eager to engage with other attendees and to gain a broader perspective on what the rest if the world is doing. Needless to say, the group has a packed three days ahead of them!

The 2017 Ashoka U Exchange is held from March 2-4 and is hosted by Miami Dade College in Miami, Florida.