The University of St. Thomas Students in Free Enterprise team was named a regional champion at the SIFE USA Regional Competition held on March 30 in Minneapolis. The event is one of 12 SIFE USA Regional Competitions held across the United States in March and April.
“We had some really tough competition this year,” said UST SIFE adviser Betsy Lofgren,“but our projects ultimately won out. Our presentation team was pretty great too. I’m overwhelmingly proud of Kylie Gayan, Callie Chamberlain, Madeline Kapler and Travis Atkinson for all the hard work they put in, not to mention the other 40 or so SIFE team members who worked on projects throughout the year.”
The University of St. Thomas is one of nearly 600 programs in the United States. Participating students use business concepts to develop community outreach projects that improve the quality of life and standard of living for people in need.
During this academic year, the UST SIFE team organized seven projects in the Twin Cities and abroad, including purchasing and installing resource-saving equipment for Feed My Starving Children, teaching job-search skills to women at the Jeremiah Program, and consulting with small business owners in Tulum, Mexico.
The culmination of the SIFE program is an annual series of competitions that provide a forum for teams to present the results of their projects and be evaluated by business leaders serving as judges. Teams compete first at the regional and national levels, then at the international level when the national champion teams from each country meet at the SIFE World Cup.
Projects are judged on the following criterion: Considering the relevant economic, social and environmental factors, which SIFE team most effectively empowered people in need by applying business and economic concepts and an entrepreneurial approach to improve their quality of life and standard of living?
As a SIFE USA regional champion, the UST SIFE team now advances to the 2011 SIFE USA National Exposition May 10-12 in Minneapolis.
Students in Free Enterprise is an international nonprofit organization that brings together the top leaders of today and tomorrow to create a better, more sustainable world through the positive power of business. Founded in 1975, SIFE has active programs on more than 1,500 college and university campuses in 39 countries.
Through projects that improve the lives of people worldwide, the university students, academic professionals and industry leaders who participate in SIFE are demonstrating that individuals with a knowledge and passion for business can be a powerful force for change.
For more information contact SIFE USA, (417) 831-9505, UST SIFE president Kylie Gayan or visit the SIFE website.
