Our SIFE team (Students In Free Enterprise) returned to Springfield as winners after participating in the Atlanta, Georgia, SIFE USA Regional Competition on March 20, 2008. The event was one of 16 SIFE USA Regional Competitions being held across the United States in March and April, and one of the largest SIFE Regional Competitions. As Regional Champions the next step for Missouri State University is to compete in the SIFE National Competition, May 13-15, 2008, in Chicago, Illinois.

SIFE is an international non-profit organization active on more than 1,400 university campuses in 48 countries. SIFE teams create economic opportunities in their communities by organizing outreach projects that focuses on: market economics, entrepreneurship, personal financial success skills, and business ethics.

This year the Missouri State University SIFE team organized 19 total projects in the Springfield community, including SIFE City: A Success Skills program which taught 350 Willard Intermediate School students how to apply for jobs, balance a check book, deposit pay checks, campaign and vote for elected officials, and ethics. SIFE City was a four-week long program which culminated with a field trip to the Discovery Center where the students ran their own city and gained first-hand experience into what life is like as an adult.

“It is an honor and a pleasure working with these outstanding students who are truly impacting the lives of others on our campus and in our community” stated Juan Meraz, Missouri State University Sam Walton Fellow.

For more information contact Juan Meraz, 836-5566.