The St. Thomas Students in Free Enterprise team won its third consecutive regional championship this week at the SIFE USA Regional Competition in Chicago. The UST SIFE team has qualified for the national competition next month in Kansas City.
From the UST Bulletin:
Every year SIFE teams across the world create and implement a variety of business-related projects that help change the world. At the end of the year they get together to share their accomplishments and compete against one another for the title of regional, national and world champion.
On April 16, SIFE president Madeline Kapler, along with secretary Chantel Taylor, vice president of communications Kelly Boelter, and vice president Travis Atkinson represented the UST SIFE team in competition. After presenting six projects in front of a panel of judges from the business community, the team was awarded the title of regional champion for its league. With this win the team is invited to present again May 22 at the national competition in Kansas City.
The UST SIFE team was started 5 years ago and they received the “Rookie of the Year” award in 2008, said Georgia Stavig Fisher, assistant dean of Undergraduate Programs in the Opus College of Business. The next year of competition the team earned First Runner-up and for the past three years Regional Champion. "They have become known in our Midwest region as the team to beat and their presentation is always standing room only," she added.
In addition to the presentation, the team (and club members) are judged on the quality of their local and international projects.
Tommie Media reported that SIFE and Sam’s Club "have helped three St. Thomas students implement process improvements and sustainable tools in an Eagan gas station and deli. Since mid-October of last year, seniors Njenga Kariuki, Greg Scharine and Lora Young have worked with Lone Oak Market to decrease customer wait time and improve unnecessary bottlenecks from forming around register areas."
