Allison Oster
Public Relations Manager
(626) 815-4518
Azusa Pacific University SIFE Team Wins Regional Business Competition
April 23, 2008
AZUSA, Calif. –
The Azusa Pacific University SIFE (Students In Free Enterprise) team, comprised of 8 presenters representing 78 total members, secured an impressive win at the Los Angeles, Calif.-based SIFE USA Regional Competition on April 7. The event was 1 of 16 SIFE USA Regional Competitions held across the United States in March and April.
After presenting a report on their year-long community outreach projects to a panel of business leaders, APU’s SIFE team emerged as a SIFE USA Regional Champion in the overall competition. The team also received recognition as a finalist in the SIFE USA Campbell’s/Sealed Air Business Ethics Competition and SIFE USA GE Consumer Products Program Sustainability Competition. APU defeated the University of La Verne, Chapman University, Mt. San Antonio College, and Whittier College, among others.
The team now advances to the national level at the SIFE USA National Exposition May 13-15 in Chicago, Ill., where they will compete with 30 schools including La Sierra University (2007 National and World Champion), Northern Arizona University, and D’Youville College.
“Listening to my team as we presented the impact of our 7 projects, which affected 2,000 lives and represents more than 1,700 hours of work, was one of the most satisfying experiences of my life,” said San Gabriel, Calif. resident Jeffery Ernest, APU senior and SIFE president.
“As with any organization, much of the SIFE team’s success is determined by those behind the scenes,” said Dan Kipley, MBA, co-faculty advisor. “Each student involved dedicated long hours and energy to these projects, thus enabling the achievements of our presentation team in April.”
“The APU SIFE team worked hard and demonstrated dedication and professionalism,” said Miriam Burgos, MBA, SIFE co-faculty advisor. “Their efforts reflect a commitment to being positive change-agents in their communities as well as in other countries.”
“I am extremely proud of the students who not only participated in the actual competition, but all of those who assisted in developing, implementing, and sustaining the programs,” said Ilene Smith Bezjian, DBA, dean of the School of Business and Management. “This opportunity enables students to apply academic knowledge in a real world business environment and then sell what they have created against the competition. I have every confidence that this team will do well at the national competition.”
During this academic year, the SIFE team organized seven projects in the Azusa community. Projects included:
- Starting a youth soccer league called the Azusa United Soccer League with membership reaching 120 kids
- Partnering with 2 local business owners to develop their business model in accounting, marketing, advertising, and promotions
- Investing 772 hours teaching elementary school students at 4 local schools
- Educating 243 students at 4 local high schools about ethics, financial literacy, and success skills
- Reaching 175 community members with multiple credit counseling sessions to eliminate confusion surrounding credit, credit scores, and loans
- Producing 3 short videos covering topics like how to interview for a job and why illegal downloading is wrong; uploading the videos to YouTube.com
- Teaching Mexican nationals in-country how to start a business and then financing the best business plan through a two-year micro loan, represents nearly 500 hours invested, more than 40 lives reached, and a partnership with 5 Mexican government agencies
For more information about SIFE, contact Kipley at dkipley@apu.edu or (626) 815-6000, Ext. 3160; or Burgos at mtburgos@apu.edu or by cell at (626) 627-3029. For a student perspective, contact Ernest at jeffreyernest@gmail.com or call (626) 532-0280.
SIFE is an international nonprofit organization active on more than 1,400 university campuses in 48 countries. SIFE teams create economic opportunities in their communities by organizing outreach projects that focuses on: market economics, entrepreneurship, personal financial success skills, and business ethics.
Featured in TIME magazine and ranked as one of the nation’s best by U.S.News & World Report and The Princeton Review, Azusa Pacific is a comprehensive, Christian, evangelical university, committed to God First and known for excellence in higher education. Azusa Pacific’s main campus lies just 26 miles northeast of Los Angeles in the San Gabriel Valley, while its seven Southern California regional centers bring convenience and extend quality programming. The university offers more than 50 areas of undergraduate study, 23 master's degrees, and 7 doctorates to a total student population of more than 8,100.
