Kuyper Hosts First-Ever Faith and Business Summit

When Karla Velis-Brito came to the United States from El Salvador to attend Kuyper College in 2012, she wasn’t quite sure what she was getting herself into.

“At first, I wasn’t even sure this was a real place,” she told attendees of the inaugural Faith and Business Summit on February 21. “There were a lot of international school scams going on back then, so I just had to get here and see.”

But that leap of faith was well worth it, she was quick to add, because Kuyper helped her prepare for a dynamic career in the business world, guided by her Christian principles.

Velis-Brito, Executive Director of business incubator, SpringGR and adjunct professor at Kuyper, spoke during a panel discussion featuring Kuyper graduates who have become local business leaders, capping off an exciting day on campus.

The Faith and Business Summit was a first-of-its-kind event for Kuyper, designed to give prospective students a glimpse into the Business Leadership program.

“Kuyper’s business program is really an integration of faith and business, that’s why we decided to create this summit,” said Marc Andreas, Professor of Business Leadership and the program’s director.

The day began bright and early with check-in before attendees joined the Kuyper community for a service in the Vos Chapel. After the official welcome that followed, they embarked on a tour of the Kuyper campus, led by a crew of familiar faces like Ann Essenburg, Director of Admissions, and Admissions Counselor Sophie Hogan. 

Next up was a peek into Andreas’ Business Capstone class, featuring a screening of the Acton Institute’s documentary film, Poverty Inc., which sparked a lively discussion about wrestling with the problem of poverty as Christians.

One prospective student raised the issue of ethically deploying foreign aid to developing countries, to which Andreas responded, “God calls us to respect our neighbor, and we can do that by remembering to work together as equals.”

Over lunch in the Walters Dining Room, current business leadership students Emily Karsten, Zamire Jackson and Nate Liberty spoke about their experiences in the program and fielded questions in a panel discussion.

“Nothing prepares you for the workforce quite like the Business Leadership program,” said Karsten. “It’s more than just learning how to run a company or manage employees, it’s about learning to be a good steward of your business.”

Back in the Vos Chapel once again, Velis-Brito took to the stage alongside fellow alumni Nicole Horstman and Luke Morgan to finish off the day’s events.

All three emphasized the value of a Kuyper business education, encouraging their listeners to consider making the same choice.