“As an African, I went there and thought, “This is not Africa,’” Wade said. “The streets of Rwanda were clean and the country was beautiful.”

Wade was joined by her husband, Michael Strong, Tuesday night in Anspach to discuss their unique view of Rwanda.

They said Rwanda, despite a negative image created by the media, is looking toward future possibilities centered around entrepreneurship.

Wade is a Senegal-born entrepreneur; her education is based in Germany and France. She co-founded Adina World Beverages in the San Francisco Bay area and also is a TED Global African Fellow in the process of starting her own skincare company.

Wade described the increasing need for an entrepreneurial population in Rwanda, specifically to heal the country after their civil war in 1994. With people busy with successful jobs, there is less time to focus on a negative “they-stole-my-job” attitude,” which was one of the causes of the genocide, she said.

Strong said issuing identity cards that labeled each citizen’s race was a beginning point for the hatred that grew in the country.

“There was a long series of blatantly racist messages that started the genocide,” Strong said. “You could read for years about who started it, and it would never be clear.”

If a successful economy where people have jobs is created, it is less likely to collapse, Strong said.

Wade began to look into ways she could work while helping the country. Because the country is landlocked, she had to come up with products that could be lightweight and shipped into the U.S. She cited the country’s essential oil supply as a way to boost the population’s work force and entrepreneurship.

“They have beautiful essential oils,” Wade said. “We’re talking about a lot of money for a very small product.”

Strong is the CEO of the non-profit FLOW, which he co-founded with the CEO of Whole Foods Market, John Mackey. FLOW dedicates itself to promoting entrepreneurial solutions to world problems. Both Strong and Wade write about their experiences and knowledge for The Huffington Post.

“Entrepreneurship creates prosperity,” Strong said. “It allows the country to heal.”

Both encouraged students to travel and create ties with young entrepreneurs in Rwanda.

“The world is yours,” Wade said. “Try sometimes to think beyond the borders. Force yourself to get out.”

Some students are jumping at the opportunity to go into business while still taking classes, and are getting a head start on building a solid base of experience in the process.

Shepherd junior Laura Lauer has gotten connected with a larger company and has realized the benefits of her involvement with sales.

“I have been selling Mary Kay for the past few months,” Lauer said. “I had a really hard time finding a job here and, because I can go by my own hours with Mary Kay, I was drawn to it.”

Mount Pleasant resident Aaron Dome, known as the “Middle Man,” began his own business with the same name after he went with an idea that popped in his head.

“I pick up fast food and deliver it to people,” Dome said. “It made sense to me … This is my third year with my business.”

Chuck Fitzpatrick, director of the LaBelle Entrepreneurial Center, said students need to consider one main aspect before creating their business.

“The question people need to ask before starting their own business is, ‘Is there a customer?’” Fitzpatrick said. “They also need to decide whether or not they can fulfill the customer’s needs.”

Lauer said the job helps improve her communication skills and teaches her about advertising.

“I get the word out with flyers, business cards and promotions, such as a free makeover,” Lauer said.

The business marketing aspects of working with a company such as Mary Kay are great experiences for any future career, Lauer said.

“Any job like this can be a benefit for what comes after college,” she said. “I am studying health fitness and rehab, and psychology. With anything in the health field I’m going to have to work with people and present information in a way they will understand.”

Before students launch into beginning a business, Fitzpatrick encourages them to visit the LaBelle Entrepreneurial Center.

He said they have several resources students can take advantage of.

“The LaBelle Center is here to help form business plans,” Fitzpatrick said. “Launching a business in college is a great opportunity for market research.”

But for owner Robin Heath, the southern barbecue takeout joint is his chance at a true entrepreneurial success story.

Heath opened the restaurant, 1010 W. Broadway St., on Dec. 26. Since then, the Mount Pleasant resident said business has been better than expected and he is already building a solid customer base.

The restaurant carries various selections of pulled pork and ribs, though he is considering a new dish aimed for the college crowd: a 10-pound nacho plate eating challenge.

“We haven’t worked out all the details yet, but we’re working on it,” he said.

His daughter Adrienne, 22 of Mount Pleasant, said the fact it is away from other businesses may help draw customers.

“Everyone’s been excited to have a business on the west side,” she said.

The entire Heath family helps with the restaurant, which is situated in one large room decorated simply, but offers a warm atmosphere.

Tom Kimbell, 20 of Mount Pleasant, lives right down the road from Robin Hood’s.

“It’s very convenient,” Kimbell said. “Other than the bar on M-20, this is the closest, most convenient place to eat.”

Heath said he chose the building because it was affordable and had the necessary plumbing and equipment. Although he would have preferred a bigger building on Mission Street, Heath is happy with the location.

He said many of his customers are regulars who come back three or four times a week.

Samantha Orlandi, 23 of New Boston, learned of the restaurant when her co-workers tried it for lunch. She has been there twice since then.

A large amount of business comes from workers on their lunch breaks, said Mount Pleasant resident Angie Wordwell, Heath’s fiancé.

Heath decided to open the business after being laid off as a sales representative with Michigan Office Solutions. He has been working on his barbecuing skills for the past 15 years and said the layoff was the “push over the cliff” he needed to start his own restaurant.

West Branch junior Nick Fox images being able to drive a car that never needs the gas to be refilled.

These ideas and many more were the focus of the Make-a-Pitch contest Thursday in Grawn Hall.

Twelve students shared their ideas for a project or invention in a five-minute time frame to an audience of around 35 while six judges critiqued their work.

The winner — Alma senior Jason Whitmore — received a $500 check.

Chuck Fitzpatrick, director of LaBelle Entrepreneurial Center, was one of the judges and said the presentations were well prepared and practiced.

“I was impressed,” he said. “We would like to get people from other disciplines and hold competitions at other schools.”

The winning idea

Whitmore plans on using the prize money to launch his idea, which is is to create a Web site similar to hulu.com, where users can watch television shows not given air time on cable networks.

Whitmore said the site would create a way to connect the content creators with the advertisers to achieve several things, such as the advertisers paying for product placement.

“I’m pumped,” Whitmore said. “I’ve never won $500 before.”

Vassar junior Molly Bender pitched an idea that could benefit ice tea drinkers.

Her idea is to create an ice tea pack, hot or cold, that will speed up the boiling process and can fit into a bottle of water.

Bender said she’s been thinking about the idea for a couple of years.

“I drink ice tea everyday and it takes a long time to prepare,” she said. “(With my idea), you wouldn’t have to boil it.”

Midland senior Baron Kimble has an idea he said would help all college students.

Kimble, who has been working on it for about a month, plans on providing tax help for low-income earners.

“Everybody needs their taxes done,” he said. “I guarantee you’ll be seeing fliers around for this and I’ll be getting calls.”

Fenton junior Nicholas Laue wants to help people in third-world countries with his idea.

Laue plans on creating a Web site that would connect a portal to sites for stores such as Best Buy, Wal-Mart and Circuit City.

From there, he would take a percentage of the revenue from the money made and donate it to third-world countries.

“It’s a noble business,” he said. “I don’t feel enough people give back anymore.”