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Beedie student Chantelle Buffie was chosen for the Top 24 under 24 list for her venture, Fusion Kitchen

Two Beedie School of Business undergraduate students have been named amongst the province’s best and brightest in a new list by prominent Vancouver daily newspaper, 24 Hours.

BBA students Chantelle Buffie and Japreet Lehal have been selected in the 2012 Top 24 Under 24 list. The list recognizes BC’s top students who are making waves in the region through entrepreneurial spirit, volunteering and technological innovation.

Buffie was chosen for the list for her venture Fusion Kitchen, which helps recent immigrant women in BC develop transferable skill sets, work experience and self-confidence as they integrate into society through teaching cooking classes focused on dishes from their native culture.

Buffie developed Fusion Kitchen in 2011 in partnership with her co-creator and fellow SFU student Sonam Swarup. Since its creation, the pair further developed the venture when they participated in the first cohort of the Beedie School of Business’ new program, the Social Entrepreneurship Accelerator.

“I am delighted to be selected for the Top 24 under 24 list and to be recognized for the work Fusion Kitchen has been doing to help immigrant women,” says Buffie. “The faculty support and resources which have been made available to me at the Beedie School of Business have been instrumental in my success as an aspiring entrepreneur. I am extremely grateful to the Beedie School of Business for allowing me to begin my entrepreneurial endeavours and look forward to developing the venture further in the future.”

Beedie undergrad Japreet Lehal was selected for the list based on his work in creating the website GoResearch.ca

Meanwhile, Lehal, a second-year BBA student at SFU Surrey, was selected for the list based on his work in creating the website GoResearch.ca. After trying unsuccessfully to break into the research field, the experience prompted Lehal to create the website, which connects researchers with students, providing a space for researchers to post job opportunities and volunteer openings which are suitable for students.

Since its launch in July this year, the website has expanded from its initial Canadian focus to a global level. The website is now available in 60 languages, allowing researchers and students from around the world to post and access research opportunities.

“Through GoResearch I aim to make the world of research more accessible and bridge the gap between students and researchers,” says Lehal. “I am indebted to the Beedie School of Business for the great entrepreneurial environment it provides its students, which has been crucial in my being selected for this list. It is this dedication to progress and innovation that drew me to the school in the first place.”

Buffie and Lehal were selected for the Top 24 under 24 list along with six other SFU students, making SFU the best-represented university on the list. Other SFU students to have been selected include communications and criminology undergraduate Vuitton Chan; health sciences student Sukhi Sangha; final-year communications undergraduate Mark Woo; Jenni Rempel, who is studying for both a BFA in Theatre Performance and a BA in Interactive Arts and Technology; biomedical engineering and communications student Eleanor Li; and criminology and sociology undergraduate Rachel Malek.

To view the full Top 24 under 24 list, visit http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/topic/top24