How do you go from UNH engineering student to co-founder of a social enterprise on the other side of the world in under 10 years? Paige Balcom '16 didn't initially plan to attend college in-state at UNH — but a full academic scholarship changed everything. Today, she's co-founder and co-CEO of Takataka Plastics in Uganda, where her social enterprise employs nearly 60 people transforming plastic water bottles into construction tiles. This is the most prevalent type of plastic waste in Uganda, but its chemical properties make it particularly challenging to recycle. Takataka Plastics is the first company in Uganda to locally recycle this type of plastic into a new product at scale. This endeavor recently earned her the Alnoba Foundation's Gutsy Young Leader Award, which recognizes leaders under 40 advancing environmental justice, social justice, and opportunities for young people. She's also a current Fulbright Scholar, teaching and researching at Gulu University. Paige's path began ...