SIFE wins national championship
The CTC Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) Team earned its first-ever national championship at the 2009 SIFE USA National Exposition recently in Philadelphia, PA. CTC competed against 18 other two-year college finalists to win the title and the $5,000 prize. Previously, CTC finished as high as fourth at nationals on several occasions and has won 14 consecutive regional championships.
A total of 137 SIFE regional champions from colleges and universities across the country competed at the national contest. The teams were divided into a series of two-year and four-year division opening round leagues. CTC was paired against El Paso Community College (TX), Rose State College (OK), Gateway Community College (CT) and Gainesville State College (GA) in one of the four division two-year school leagues. From the opening round, one team in each of the two-year division leagues advanced to the final round of competition. The four remaining schools then vied for the national title.
Each team was required to make an oral presentation outlining its programs and activities during the year. Some of the CTC SIFE projects included a mystery shopper program, money management seminars, free enterprise educational programs to primary and secondary schools. And as more emphasis was placed on “greener” projects at last year’s competition, CTC SIFE was determined to achieve higher results this year by incorporating eco-friendly, energy savings projects to its program. The new go-green effort was initiated by tracking energy savings through the use of compact fluorescent light bulbs in homes and businesses. In addition to promoting the use of fluorescent light bulbs, the local SIFE team recently held several electronic recycling drives in which outdated television sets, computer CRT monitors and VCRs were collected for recycling. In all, more than 1,400 hours were logged by SIFE on “green” projects and other programs designed to teach and promote the free enterprise system.
Members of the national champion SIFE team are Chastity Clemons, president; Rhaiza Luna, vice president; Jennifer Napolez, media/marketing coordinator; Rendell Harrell, secretary; William Smith, student government representative; Kara McVey, project manager; Mark Hyde and Charles McManus. In addition, there are 25 other active CTC SIFE members.
SIFE was founded in 1975 as an international non-profit organization dedicated to bringing together the top leaders of today and tomorrow to create a better, more sustainable world through the positive power of business. There are more than 34,000 students actively participating in SIFE programs at more than 1,300 college and university campuses in 41 countries.