April 19, 2000

VITERBO SIFE TEAM EARNS DISTINCTIONS/AWARDS IN OUTREACH PROJECTS AT MPLS FREE ENTERPRISE COMPETITION

LA CROSSE,  Wis. - The Viterbo SIFE Team matched their education outreach projects against the programs of other SIFE Teams at the 2000 Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) Regional Exposition and Career Opportunity Fair held last weekend in Minneapolis.

The nine students representing the Viterbo organization received "Rookie of the Year" distinction and overall won third place in regional competition.

Students in Free Enterprise encourages students to take what they are learning in the classroom and apply it to real-life situations, and to use their knowledge to better their communities through educational outreach projects.

The "Teach a Child about Business" project was the highlight of the Viterbo presentation at the conference. Students from SIFE taught 85 fourth and fifth grade students at Eagles Bluff Elementary about money-—where it goes  and how it circulates from grocery story to bank to retail outlets.

Viterbo SIFE students presented their outreach programs to a panel of local and national business leaders and entrepreneurs who rated the overall effectiveness of each team’s efforts.  Students also met with dozens of corporate representatives from the La Crosse business community to discuss job opportunities.  Regional champions named at  19 competitions held around the country, as well as in Brazil, Central Asia and Mexico, will present their projects at the Hallmark Cards/SIFE International Exposition and Career Opportunity Fair in Kansas City, Missouri, May 21-23.

John Nebeck,  associate professor of business at Viterbo, serves as advisor for the Viterbo SIFE Team. Nebeck was named a Sam M. Walton Free Enterprise Fellow in recognition of his leadership and support of the SIFE program at Viterbo College.

ABOUT SIFE:
Active on more than 700 college campuses SIFE is a non-profit organization that works in partnership with business and higher education to provide college students the opportunity to make a difference and to develop leadership, teamwork, and communication skills through learning, practicing, and teaching the principles of free enterprise.

VITERBO SIFE STUDENTS; HOMETOWNS

CITY                                    NAME                                       STATUS
Cuba City, WI                      Sime, Tara (President)                Junior
Campbellsport, WI              Simon, Jessica (Vice-President   Senior
Chippewa Falls, WI             Daigle, Darci (Secretary)            Senior
Readstown, WI                    Davidson, Heather (Treasurer)    Senior
Soldiers Grove, WI              Hartley, Heidi                             Junior
Kewaskum, WI                    Hills, ReNae                               Freshman
Reedsburg, WI                     Weihing, Emily                          Freshman
Soldiers Grove, WI              Olson, Emily                               Sophomore
Pulaski, WI                           Pelishek, Chad                            Senior