Campus News

Westminster College Students "Speed Date" with Non-Profits

Non-traditional meetings with non-profits lead to matches made in heaven

Contact: Krista DeAngelis (801) 832-2682

SALT LAKE CITY – Where there’s a need – fill it. Members of Delta Mu Delta (DMD), the business student honor society at Westminster College, know being a well-rounded business leader means more than just looking at the bottom line. They need to consider the broader needs of the community as well.

“In our MBA courses, we encourage our students to join boards to serve their communities, to build leadership skills, and enrich their professional networks,” said Melissa Koerner, PhD, associate professor and faculty advisor for DMD.

As a service project for this year, DMD organized a “speed dating” board recruiting event on April 13, 2011 in the Bill and Vieve Gore School of Business Atrium. The event was a huge success according to the 80 students from the MBA and Masters of Arts in Community Leadership programs and the 19 non-profits who participated- including organizations like the Salvation Army, the Road Home, and the YMCA of Greater Salt Lake.

“The turnout exceeded our expectations,” said Brad Shepherd, a DMD officer who helped organize the event. “The common response from the nonprofits that I received was that they were thrilled with both the quality and skill sets of the Westminster students, as well as their enthusiasm. I felt a sense of positive ‘buzz’ and excitement both during and after the event.”

The event included two-minute presentations by the non-profits on the organization’s mission, programs and services offered, as well as an explanation of open board positions. After the presentations, students were invited to submit business cards and resumes, as well as provide a summary of their strengths and skills. “Time” was called every six minutes and the next rotation began.

“We were so impressed with the credentials and background of those we spoke with,” said Hilea Walker, a representative of The Road Home, a Utah homeless shelter. “We invited each individual that submitted a resume to attend our upcoming ‘One by One’ breakfast on May 5th. We’re hopeful they will attend and gain a greater knowledge about our organization with the intent to serve on a committee or in a board position.”
“Business students have skills that many nonprofits need--marketing, accounting, technology, and research… so it's a win-win,” Koerner said.

Koerner also reported that many students and non-profits were so pleased with the outcome that the “speed-dating” will likely become an annual event.

“For us, it was a wonderful experience to meet the students in an informal setting and share our story,” Walker said. “It was definitely worth our time and we want to be invited back to do it again. Thank you so much for the opportunity!”

About Westminster:
Westminster is a nationally recognized, comprehensive liberal arts college. With a broad array of graduate and undergraduate programs, Westminster is distinguished by its unique environment for learning. Westminster prepares students for success through active and engaged learning, real world experiences and its vibrant campus community. Westminster’s unique location, adjacent to the Rocky Mountains and to the dynamic city of Salt Lake, further enriches the college experience. For more information visit www.westminstercollege.edu or follow @WestminsterSLC on Twitter.