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DSU SIFE Takes Regional Championship

Dakota State University’s Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) Team won their 2^nd Regional Championship in 3 years Wednesday, March 26, 2008, at the SIFE Regional Competition in Minneapolis, MN.

The team will join approximately 150 other teams from around the United States in the national championship in Chicago May 13-15. The winner of that championship will compete in the SIFE World Cup in Singapore in the fall.

DSU’s SIFE team presented their work before a room filled with other competitors and was evaluated by twenty judges reviewing their projects, annual reports, and statistical details.

“The team received the judges' evaluations after the competition was complete and found them to be uniformly positive and supportive of their projects and presentation skills,” said Dr. Jack Walters, DSU SIFE faculty advisor. “It was a solid win and one of the best SIFE presentations I have seen, including major national competitors the first time we went to Nationals in '06.”

There were 11 SIFE students that went to the regional competition this year: Austin Engen, Ted Jackson, Eric Assmus, Kyle Stoebner, Jesse Erdman, Joe Henderson, Erica Christoph, Mike Heinen, Ashley Welbig, Ryan Vanden Berge, Traci Prien, Noah Sanderson. They were accompanied by faculty advisor Walters.

January 25, 2006

Article from the DSU Trojan Times

Are you looking to belong to an organization where you can actually get involved? Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) is an organization on campus that is in its first year of activity. While SIFE projects focus on business related activities, it is open to all majors and there are no dues to become a member. We are looking for motivated students to share their ideas and become part of our team.

A few of the projects we are working on now include teaching financial literacy to students in the Madison area, arranging for a financial advisor to speak to students about investments, compiling a packet of forms and information for start-up businesses, and visiting an abused women’s shelter. Any one who joins SIFE can participate in whatever projects they choose.

Come check us out at our next meeting: February 9th at 12:20 in East Hall 100.

September 29, 2005

The following project ideas below have been voted on and selected as projects DSU SIFE will accomplish during this school year.

Team up with USD SIFE and visit homeless shelters, prisons, and other places that give us the opportunity to teach some of the residents basic financial and ethnic skills that will get them back on their feet.

Go out to local schools in Madison and teach financial literacy to students, with focuses being on savings, checking, and investments.

Arrange a "seminar" and allow a broker or financial advisor come and speak to a group of people about financial investments.

"Learning by Doing": Create a DSU "virtual" business incubator helping new business start-up or helping existing businesses improve.

If you would like to sign up to participate in one or two of these projects, please contact one of officer members.

September 27, 2005

Homecoming week was a busy one for the SIFE members. A few members of the SIFE team worked together with the Phi Beta Lambda business club to decorate the hallway on first floor of East Hall. Even though the floor didn't receive first place in the judging, everyone had a good time helping out.

The festivities didn't end there. SIFE also entered a float in this year's homecoming parade. With the theme, "She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy", the float consisted of a lawn mower, haybales, grass and President Dave Wiederich as the "tractor" driver. There were a few difficulties getting the lawn mower loaded on to the trailer but all in the all, the float turned out great.

April 22, 2005

DSU SIFE Press Release

New Student Organization at DSU
(from the DSU Trojan Times)

DSU has a new student organization on campus, Students in Free Enterprise or SIFE. Thirty-one students attended the inaugural meeting of DSU-SIFE held April 14 in East Hall 100. A constitution was approved and slate of officers elected. Officers elected for the 2005-2006 academic year are:

President: Dave Wiederich
Vice President: Christina Tienter
Secretary: Melissa Gates
Treasurer: Jennifer Sanderson
Historian/Web Master: Brandon Nase
Reporter/Public Relations: Heather Rogers

SIFE is a global, non-profit organization that is literally changing the world through highly dedicated student teams on more than 1800 university campuses in more than 40 countries. SIFE offers these students the opportunity to develop leadership, teamwork and communication skills through learning, practicing and teaching the principles of free enterprise, thereby improving the standard of living for millions in the process. Guided by distinguished faculty advisors and supported by businesses around the globe, SIFE Teams teach important concepts through educational outreach projects, including market economics, entrepreneurship, personal and financial success, and business ethics to better themselves, their communities and their countries.

Steve Shirley, VP of Student Affairs, will speak at the April 28th meeting about his student experiences with SIFE. SIFE members will then discuss potential project ideas for next year. Some Teams start businesses. Each year, SIFE regional, national, worldwide competitions draw together thousands of students and business leaders to pay tribute to student. Students interested in checking out SIFE are encouraged to attend the April 28th meeting at 12:30pm in EH 100.

For more information, you can visit the National SIFE website at www.sife.org.