Penn State Altoona SIFE team named regional champion

Thursday, April 12, 2012 - 724 hits

The Penn State Altoona SIFE team (Students In Free Enterprise) was named Regional Champion at the SIFE USA Regional Competition held April 4, 2012, in Baltimore, MD.

Competing as one of 35 teams, Penn State Altoona 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 distinguished business leaders on how well they created economic opportunity by educating others. As regional champions, the team will travel to Kansas City, MO, to compete against other SIFE USA Regional Champions from around the country at the SIFE USA National Exposition, May 22-24.

Some of the projects highlighted in the team’s presentation included the ongoing collaboration with the Blair County Drug and DUI courts in which participants learn necessary skills to apply for and gain employment. There has been a 60 percent job placement rate since the project’s inception in 2005. This year, the team worked with Family Services of Blair County to present the program at the Emergency Shelter, which also resulted in a 60 percent job placement rate.

The team also presented on its partnership with a local businesswoman to turn her publishing company into a non-profit organization, its work in Rwanda to expand economic opportunities, develop a global marketplace for crafts, and expand educational sponsorship opportunities for the children, and its Go Green project.

In additional to competition, students had the opportunity to interview for jobs and internships during a Career Fair with representatives from SIFE partner companies.

The team is supported by advisor Cynthia Wood and project coordinator Sue Stevens. Also attending the competition and supporting the Penn State Altoona team were Chancellor Lori J. Bechtel-Wherry and SIFE Business Advisory Board members.

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 1500 college and university campuses in 39 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.