PBU-SIFE named Regional Champion

April 2007

PBU-SIFE was named a Regional Champion Friday, March 30, in Philadelphia at the Students in Free Enterprise Regional Competition. The team will now compete at the National Exposition in Dallas May 6-8, marking the third consecutive year the team from PBU has achieved this distinction. In addition, PBU-SIFE was chosen as a national finalist in the individual topic competition called "Success Skills," recognized for their planning and implementation of the PBU Career Fair and R.I.D.E.and S.T.E.P.S. programs (career development training on the PBU campus and in two homeless shelters). Over thirty PBU-SIFE student members attended the competition,along with Dean Ron Ferner and Provost Dr. Todd Williams. Many of those students also met with potential employers at the SIFE Career Fair and were offered opportunities for internships or employment interviews for potential jobs.

The presentation team was complimented in written evaluations from judges representing multinational corporations not only for their accomplishments but for their professional demeanor, articulate answering of difficult questions, and clear understanding of the PBU-SIFE mission. The presentation team included Andelyn Robb, Steve Johnson, Josh Bean, Clark Hoober, Rodney Talley, Lindsay Taylor, Brad Burkholder and Jeff McElhaney.

Students in Free Enterprise is an international organization with chapters on over 1800 campuses worldwide which encourages university students to "change the world" by educating and empowering others through many community service activities using business models to accomplish their goals. PBU-SIFE's mission is to "glorify God by educating and empowering others to create economic opportunity through free enterprise." The team this year accomplished 14 projects and developed an annual report and formal oral business presentation for the Regional Competition. Their faculty advisor is Sam Walton Fellow Gail Benchener and the student-run organization with 40 members is affiliated with the School of Business and Leadership at PBU.