SIFE club wins awards, serves community

This month, the Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) went to Philadelphia to compete with other college teams. Though it was their first time competing, Seton Hill University’s (SHU) SIFE club received Second Runner-Up and Rookie of the Year.

By India Lindsey

Ad Manager

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This month, the Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) went to Philadelphia to compete with other college teams. Though it was their first time competing, Seton Hill University’s (SHU) SIFE club received Second Runner-Up and Rookie of the Year.

SIFE is a national, nonprofit organization that is active in over 40 countries and educates the public on marketing, ethnic, and business concepts through educational projects. Different corporations, government’s agencies and foundations fund the organization. Working with business and higher education, each SIFE team works to develop outreach projects based on certain educational topics such as environmental sustainability and market economics. The effectiveness of these projects is judged at competitions. During competitions, SIFE teams present the results of their educational outreach projects and compete to determine which team was most successful at creating economic opportunities for others.

“SIFE helps students to develop leadership and communication skills while helping their community. Although SIFE is a lot of work, students value the experience because there is a payoff. The payoff is they become more attractive job seekers to high profile employers,” said Doina Vlad, an associate professor of business.

The SHU SIFE team was established last year and consists of 50 members, 17 of which are active. To determine what projects to implement, the group must first identify the problems and needs of the community. SIFE collaborates with other clubs and organizations to decide on projects. For example, for a matter concerning financial literacy, they will survey SHU and Greensburg Salem High Schools to find what skills they are lacking and need to improve. The projects are not assigned; members either suggest an idea or work together on an idea already presented by someone else.
SIFE’s first project was titled “Finance 101,” and involved teaching college and high school students basic financial skills such as selecting a lender, inquiring and using general loan information, building and improving credit scores and retirement plans. The second project, “My Second Chance,” was aimed at helping college students and unemployed individuals. At this event, which was held at the Greensburg YMCA, several speakers presented interview skills, resume writing, and other basic skills to successfully obtain employment. The following project, “Economic Crisis Panel,” aimed at giving people a better insight into the current economic crisis in America. This event was held at SHU with the attendance of over 200 students, faculty, staff, and Greensburg residents. Their last project was a food drive that collected over 60 pounds of food.

“Fortune 500 employers…seek out SIFE students for internships and jobs because they know that SIFE students go above and beyond to help the community and to bring recognition to their University,” said Rebecca Campbell, Director of Careerworks.
SIFE provides many opportunities for students to meet some of the most notable CEO’s not only in the US, but overseas as well. They also offer the possibility of getting hired or interning with one of the companies.

“My future hope for this organization is that we will continue our hard work,” said Larisa Verstivchi, a sophomore. “I believe the two awards we were able to receive was an outstanding achievement and I hope that next year we make it to nationals.”