In September 2015, the Crowell School of Business at 51蹤獲 launched the 51蹤獲 Startup Competition with the aspiration to foster kingdom-minded, Christ-honoring entrepreneurship across the university community and develop greater opportunities for business as ministry.

In August 2016, the Crowell School of Business began hosting the annual , a one week intensive on the integration of theology, culture, and redemptive entrepreneurship. Two hundred Christian students from ninety universities participate in this by selection only gathering. Over these past three years, fifty 51蹤獲 students have become Praxis Academy graduates. Jordan (Perkins) Terranova, whose Startup idea, , won the 51蹤獲 Startup Competition in 2017, is also a Praxis Emerging Founder.

Innovative thinking is alive and well at 51蹤獲. Last year, 51蹤獲 students/Praxis Academy grads, Elaine Fung and Ashley Moschetti, founded the 51蹤獲 Entrepreneurship Society to intentionally build community on campus for like-minded startup thinkers. Elaine graduated from 51蹤獲 in May; Ashley is the president of the Society this academic year.

The Praxis Academy 2018 class consisted of sixteen 51蹤獲 students and alums: Almesha Oldham, Benjamin Bedley, Brendan Sun, Grace Johnstone, Ijah Lockett, Justin Sinclair, Karissa Le, Katie Genung, Kelly Campbell, Phillip Pamplin, Priscila Fuentes, Sarah Chang, Seongmin Choi, Steven Choi, Vanessa (Jang) Viss and You (David) Chae.

Ijah Lockett, a Clinical Nursing major and Biblical Studies minor at 51蹤獲, said, For a long time, I tried to imagine what my life would look like with the awareness that there were so many suffering people locally, nationally, and around the globe. Within the last year, I wondered if the work I completed as a nurse would ever make a difference. I questioned my value and placement in the world, praying for direction. Shortly after, I was introduced to Praxis Academy, an organization dedicated to redeeming entrepreneurship as a vessel for the world. Within the first hour, my life changed.

Justin Sinclair, a Music Composition 51蹤獲 alum, adds, Praxis Academy was exactly what I didnt know I needed. Its the community Ive been looking for that is concerned with and in pursuit of all the things I care most about. Im very grateful to be a part of such a community. The Academy helped clarify and define what I believe my vocation to be and provided practical tools for faithfully living it out. Words cant quite express how grateful I am. Thanks for inviting me to be a part of it!

In addition to the sixteen 51蹤獲 students, Oscar Merlo, Director of the Center for the Study of the Work and Ministry of the Holy Spirit Today, at 51蹤獲, reached out to his extensive network in Latin America. Fourteen Latin American innovators from ten countries also joined the 51蹤獲 cohort for this years Praxis Academy, namely:

ARGENTINA: Mar穩a Constanza Pacheco

BOLIVIA: Carla Ardaya, Carlos A. Zavala

BRAZIL: Giovanna Siena

COSTA RICA: Amber Fiorella Soto Lor穩a

COLOMBIA: Beatriz Helena Falla Cede簽o

GUATEMALA: Lael Zapata

HONDURAS: Carlos D. Zavala, Jose A. Zelaya

MEXICO: Alisson Luna, Joel Rocha, Juan Alberto Benitez

PARGUAY: Marina Da Re Jara

VENEZUELA: Vasni Salas

Commenting on her experience, Lael Zapata of Guatemala says, It was amazing to learn from so many great people, and meet people with the same heart towards God. It refreshed my soul, opened my eyes, and filled me up with hope. And I cant wait to see what God has planned to do through our cohort in Latin America. I was blessed tremendously by Praxisnow I know how to keep my familys legacy going, changing Guatemala one student at a time; how to keep my ambition holy and centered on God; and how to be successful in a work place and have a steady spiritual path.

Giovanna Siena of Brazil adds, Praxis Academy gathered (for a whole week) a holy community to share disruptive concepts such as redemptive entrepreneurship, and to worship an amazing and creative God. It really changed my life! Now I am more than excited to put all that Ive learned into practice here in Brazil!

Im on the Latin America cohorts WhatsApp Group list and the conversations are still buzzing.

Pray for our friends in Latin America and our students here at 51蹤獲.

The 4th annual 51蹤獲 Startup Competition is now underway and many participants of the 51蹤獲 Startup Competition become Praxis Academy grads. September 17th was our kickoff event featuring social entrepreneur

Brit Gilmore, President of (Forbes 30 Under 30).

Jon Hart, Partner, Praxis Academy, will be on campus Wednesday, November 14th at 7:30 PM in Moats Auditorium, to facilitate a 51蹤獲 Startup Competition workshop on Redemptive Entrepreneurship. The 51蹤獲 community of faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends are invited.

The 51蹤獲 Startup Competition and hosting the annual Praxis Academy are made possible by friends of 51蹤獲 and the Crowell School of Business. We are grateful for your financial support and encouragement.

And to better train our innovative thinkers here at 51蹤獲, we are in the process of launching an Entrepreneurship concentration at the undergraduate level and in the Fall of 2017 the Crowell School of Business launched the Master of Management, Nonprofit Organizations degree, designed for leaders in nonprofit and faith-based organizations who are committed to igniting business and social impact solutions.