April 23, 2001
VITERBO "SIFE" NAMED REGIONAL FREE ENTERPRISE CHAMPIONS
LA CROSSE, Wis.-Viterbo business students who matched their educational outreach projects against the programs of 16 other college teams captured the Regional Championship award at the 2001 Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) Regional Exposition and Career Opportunity Fair held April 12 in Minneapolis.
In addition to the first-place award, Viterbo students also earned a $1,500 prize which will be used to fund the team’s trip to national competition.
Regional champions named at twenty competitions held around the country will present their projects May 13-15 at the 2001 SIFE USA National Exposition in Kansas City, Mo. May 13-15. The national champion in the 4-year college division will travel to London, in July to compete at the inaugural SIFE World Cup.
SIFE 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 projects presented by the Viterbo SIFE team included Junior Achievement, Teach a Child about Business, School of Business Career - Fair, and the Book Exchange.
Teams were judged on the effectiveness of their projects during a 24-minute presentation and were evaluated on creativity and innovation, demonstrated results, success in utilizing resources, and documentation of activities. Viterbo SIFE students also met with dozens of corporate representatives from the Minneapolis business community to discuss job opportunities.
John Nebeck serves as advisor for the Viterbo SIFE Team. Nebeck, associate professor in Viterbo’s Dahl School of Business, was also named a Sam M. Walton Free Enterprise Fellow in recognition of his leadership and support of the SIFE program at Viterbo University.
Founded in 1975 and active on more than 1000 college campuses in 20 countries, 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.