75 New Social Entrepreneurs Begin Here

This week, 75 college freshmen hailing from five universities across the United States were accepted in the Compass Fellowship, a social entrepreneurial training program. Following a rigorous application and interview process that started with nearly 700 college freshmen, American, Georgetown, George Washington, Indiana and Tufts University each now has a passionate group of 15 new Compass Fellows who will work together over the next two years to develop innovative business solutions to some of the world’s greatest problems. The 75 Compass Fellows are profiled here.

Through the Compass Fellowship, students will engage in personal growth and business skill modules where they will move beyond the campus gates to hear from some of the community’s greatest thought leaders. The program will provide Fellows with guidance and mentorship from upperclassmen students who coordinate the program at their schools. Fellows will be connected to internship opportunities that allow them to gain hands-on experience in areas of passion. Finally, Fellows will each receive the resources necessary to launch social business ventures that encompass their passions and enable them to develop financially sustainable solutions to pressing social issues. Each of the 75 Fellows who are embarking on this journey will launch a socially-conscious business venture at the end of the program.

The program kicked off at each school with a team-building retreat. Fellows participated in activities ranging from city-wide scavenger hunts to sunrise breakfasts and bowling. Fellows also began with their interactive modules led by inspirational leaders from the community. In Washington, DC, for example, the Fellows from American, Georgetown and GWU heard from Andy Shallal, the founder of Busboys and Poets and Robert Egger, the CEO and Founder of DC Central Kitchen.

As these 75 Fellows continue their entrepreneurial aspirations through the program, they will be featured on the Compass Partners website, as well as the sites of our media partners, including CSRwire.