April 21, 2010

SIFE takes part in regional competition

The DWU SIFE team was named second runner-up at the SIFE USA Regional Competition in March. Pictured are, from left to right: Kelli Baseley, Sioux Falls; Karissa Miller, Draper; Derik Fossum, Canton; Katy Duffy, Platte; Tanner LaValliere, Sioux Falls; Rhonda Pole, DWU SIFE adviser; Ben Zimmer, Montrose; Mallory Gould, Sioux Falls; and John Hart, Alexandria. - Submitted Photo

MITCHELL — The Dakota Wesleyan University SIFE (Students in Free Enterprise) team traveled to Minneapolis for the SIFE USA Regional Competition in March and was named second runner-up in its competition league.

DWU SIFE students presented a 24-minute multi-media summary of the educational outreach projects they developed and implemented throughout the year. They were judged by a panel of area business and community leaders on how well they created economic opportunity by helping others.

SIFE is a leading international non-profit organization that mobilizes university students around the world to make a difference in their communities while developing the skills to become socially responsible business leaders.

The DWU students who represented the university’s team at competition included: Derik Fossum, Canton; Ben Zimmer, Montrose; Kelli Baseley, Mallory Gould and Tanner LaValliere, all of Sioux Falls; Chris Pritchard, Newport South Wales; Jon Hart, Alexandria; Karissa Miller, Draper; and Katy Duffy, Platte. Rhonda Pole serves as adviser for the SIFE team, and she was named a Sam M. Walton Free Enterprise Fellow in recognition of her leadership and support of the SIFE program at Dakota Wesleyan University.

Some of the projects DWU SIFE students engaged in included teaching market economics to sixth-grade students at Marty Indian School; hosting for the fourth year an entrepreneurship coffee series during National Entrepreneurship Week; holding an Ethics Week, which included an Ethics Bowl and creation of a PSA about the negative effects of cheating that the students distributed statewide to colleges and universities; teaching of financial literacy in the Learn Strong 101 classes; partnering with the education department in establishing a new and engaging entrepreneurship curriculum which was used at L.B. Williams Elementary School (Bunny Money); building a website for the Methodist Church of Kenya’s Kanga Synod AIDS Program that could be used as a teaching tool and to help raise funds for the program; developing a brochure for the Mitchell Chamber of Commerce that highlighted the different wellness and fitness opportunities available to the public; and running a campus-wide paper reduction awareness week.

In addition to the competition, students had the opportunity to network and interview for jobs and internships during a career fair with representatives from SIFE partner companies.

SIFE is an international non-profit organization that brings together the 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 40 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 Dakota Wesleyan University, (605) 995-2901, or visit www.sife.org