SIFE Team Named Regional Champion in Seattle

The California State University, Chico Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) team matched its educational outreach projects against other teams at the 2002 SIFE Regional Competition and Career Opportunity Fair held on April 5 in Seattle, Washington. The team was named Regional Champion and will advance to the International Competition in May in Kansas City, Missouri.

Twenty-two members of the team traveled to Seattle with adviser Curt DeBerg, professor of accounting and management information systems, including the five presenters (see SIFE photo and names on page 2).

SIFE encourages students to apply what they learn in the classroom to real-life situations and to use their knowledge to better their communities through educational outreach projects. The projects presented by the CSU, Chico SIFE team included the “Wise Kid, Wealthy Kid” Youth Entrepreneurship Camp, Project Africa, the International Trade Fair, and a high school mentoring project called Cal-High SIFE. Many of the grade school and high school students with whom SIFE works are from economically disadvantaged schools.

Entrepreneurship Camp

The camp was entered in two separate competitions that were judged before the regional competitions: the National Teach A Child About Business Week competition and the Best Entrepreneurship Assistance competition.

The CSU, Chico team was named a Top 15 finalist in both competitions. The distinction earned the team a $500 award for each special competition, and the possibility of being named one of the Top Three finalists in Kansas City, Missouri.

At the Seattle competition, teams were judged on the effectiveness of their projects during a 24-minute presentation. Presentations were evaluated on creativity and innovation, results of education programs, success in using resources, and documentation of activities.

CSU, Chico SIFE students also met with dozens of corporate representatives to discuss job opportunities. Regional champions named at 21 competitions held around the country will present their projects at the 2002 SIFE USA National Exposition May 12–14 in Missouri. The national champion will travel to Amsterdam in September to compete at the second annual SIFE World Cup.

SIFE works with business and higher education to provide college students the opportunity to make a difference through practicing and teaching the principles of free enterprise.