Center for Enterprise & Community Engagement

Center for Enterprise & Community Engagement Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Center for Enterprise & Community Engagement, College & University, 2100 W. University Avenue, Wichita, KS.

Become a transformative hub building strong connections between students and the Wichita community, benefiting both through business innovation and transformational community impact.

Over the past six weeks, CECE student leaders participated in a leadership development experience focused on building th...
05/12/2026

Over the past six weeks, CECE student leaders participated in a leadership development experience focused on building the skills, mindset, and self-awareness needed to succeed in both life and the workforce.

Throughout the program, students explored:

Teamwork & collaboration - led by Jenny Grandfield, MBA
Curiosity, Empathy & the Identity of You - led by Austin Calam
Fortitude and Leadership Self-Inventory - led by Damon Young
Purpose, Power & Legacy - led by Tasha Parker, Ph.D., LSCSW, MPA
Resilience and Workforce Preparedness - led by Miss Kansas Emily Rugg

Students were challenged to grow beyond academics by strengthening communication, adaptability, emotional intelligence, and leadership skills through meaningful discussions and reflection. They learned how to navigate adversity, work effectively with others, lead with empathy, and better understand the impact they want to make in their careers and communities.
It was inspiring to watch students gain confidence, deepen their self-awareness, and prepare for the realities of today’s workforce with resilience and purpose.

Thank you to the speakers who invested in the next generation of leaders. The future is in good hands with these students, Sander Fjell, Cole McCreary, Nicholas Foley, William Logan, Grant Waggoner, Kelsie Kinniburgh, Alexa Fonseca, Innslee Albright, and Haley Ziser

Our students spent the past 16 weeks, partnering with oneCOMMUNITY to tackle one of the most pressing economic challenge...
05/06/2026

Our students spent the past 16 weeks, partnering with oneCOMMUNITY to tackle one of the most pressing economic challenges in Wichita, childcare.

Through a hands-on, data-driven research project, students analyzed childcare systems across 12 states, examining:
• Market pricing and cost structures
• Regulatory and policy environments
• Employer-sponsored childcare models
• Workforce and economic impacts

What they found is clear: childcare is not just a family issue, it’s a workforce and economic issue. In Wichita alone, childcare shortages are contributing to labor gaps, reduced productivity, and significant economic loss.

This course reflects what experiential learning should look like, students applying business skills to real-world challenges while engaging with community leaders, nonprofits, and industry stakeholders.

Proud of these students, Samantha Jones, Kd Martinez, Grant Waggoner, Innslee Albright, and Bradan Balman for demonstrating:
✔Intellectual courage
✔ Thoughtful, data-informed analysis
✔ A commitment to serving others through business

And grateful to our community partners, Brent Lewis and Sarah Lopez who made this work meaningful and impactful and took time to connect with our students during this project.

Where relationships are built one swing at a time ⛳️Last week, our CECE student leaders stepped out of the classroom and...
05/04/2026

Where relationships are built one swing at a time ⛳️

Last week, our CECE student leaders stepped out of the classroom and onto the driving range for a unique “Business & Golf” experience, where networking, strategy, and mindset all came to life.

From learning the fundamentals of the golf swing to practicing the art of conversation between shots, students discovered how the game of golf mirrors the world of business:
1. Relationship drives opportunities
2. You reveal your character on the course
3. Business is a long game
4. Presence matters

This wasn’t just about golf, it was about confidence, connection, and preparing for real-world business environments where deals and relationships are often built outside the office.

Grateful to Stephen Wegeng, RFMP and Kaela Wegeng (both alumni of Friends University) for the opportunity to create hands-on learning moments that equip students to lead with purpose, on and off the course.

Proud moment for our CECE Student Leaders 👏On Monday night, four scholarship students, Sander Fjell, Kelsie Kinniburgh, ...
04/15/2026

Proud moment for our CECE Student Leaders 👏

On Monday night, four scholarship students, Sander Fjell, Kelsie Kinniburgh, Grant Waggoner, and Nicholas Foley had the opportunity to present to the Haysville City Council, showcasing the culmination of a four-month, hands-on project focused on community impact and economic development.
Throughout these four months, these students:

• Researched and evaluated the city’s current economic development plan
• Designed and conducted a community survey
• Assessed service needs for a growing population
• Identified top quality-of-life priorities for residents
• Developed an updated economic development plan, including a SWOT analysis, strategic goals, and actionable recommendations

This was more than a class project, it was real-world consulting. Our students stepped into the role of civic leaders, using their skills to provide suggestions to the Haysville community.
We’re incredibly proud of their professionalism, insight, and commitment to the common good. Thank you to the Haysville City Council for the opportunity to partner and invest in the future of your city. A special thank you to Mayor Russ Kessler (a Friends University alumni) and his team, Will Black and Danielle Gabor for taking time to invest in our students.

Thank you, Denver Institute for Faith & Work, for an exceptional conference on Business for the Common Good. We enjoyed ...
03/09/2026

Thank you, Denver Institute for Faith & Work, for an exceptional conference on Business for the Common Good. We enjoyed the theme on what if mercy became more common in commerce. We are grateful for the opportunity to attend.

CECE student leaders attended Kansas Independent College Association, Student Day at the Capitol yesterday to share what...
02/26/2026

CECE student leaders attended Kansas Independent College Association, Student Day at the Capitol yesterday to share what they love about being a student at Friends University. In addition to taking a dome tour, they had powerful meetings with the following:

Rep. Gary White
Rep. Steve Brunk
Sen. Silas Miller
Sen. Renee Erickson
Rep. Tom Sawyer

This past fall, students from the Center for Enterprise and Community Engagement at Friends University partnered with Th...
02/20/2026

This past fall, students from the Center for Enterprise and Community Engagement at Friends University partnered with The Salvation Army South Central Kansas to build a real-world business and marketing plan for a mission-driven social enterprise.
Students developed market research, financial projections, branding strategies, and workforce integration models, all culminating in stakeholder presentations to Salvation Army leadership.
This is experiential learning at its best: combining business strategy, sustainability, and community impact.
Proud of our students and grateful for strong community partnerships that make this work possible.

Happy Valentines Day from CECE. Here are the things we LOVE about Friends University. ❤️
02/16/2026

Happy Valentines Day from CECE. Here are the things we LOVE about Friends University. ❤️

Meet our incredible team of student leaders for CECE at Friends University.
02/11/2026

Meet our incredible team of student leaders for CECE at Friends University.

🎀 We’re Celebrating a New Chapter at Friends University! 🎀As we kick off the spring semester, we take a moment to look b...
01/12/2026

🎀 We’re Celebrating a New Chapter at Friends University! 🎀

As we kick off the spring semester, we take a moment to look back to the fall when we officially hosted our ribbon cutting for the new Center for Enterprise and Community Engagement (CECE) at Friends University — a vision designed to strengthen the bridge between student learning and Wichita’s business and nonprofit community.

CECE serves as a hub where business innovation, hands-on learning, and community impact intersect. Through strategic partnerships with local corporations, nonprofits, and civic organizations, CECE students have already begun to engage in real-world projects that build critical skills while supporting meaningful initiatives across the region.

This center represents:
✨ A commitment to preparing students with practical, applied business experience
✨ A collaborative model that empowers local organizations through service-driven solutions
✨ A shared vision for economic development, social innovation, and transformational community engagement

Here’s to new partnerships, new possibilities, and a stronger Wichita.
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Address

2100 W. University Avenue
Wichita, KS
67213

Telephone

+13162955829

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