UPT SIFE TEAM HELPS ELEMENTARY STUDENTS

BECOME ENTREPRENEURS

TITUSVILLE, Feb. 17 - The University of Pittsburgh at Titusville (UPT) Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) Team began their third annual Elementary-Students In Free Enterprise (E-SIFE) Program in February at local elementary schools.

E-SIFE was conceived and developed by the UPT SIFE Team to teach young children, specifically fourth graders, entrepreneurship and other related business topics by helping them operate their own school store.  The kids sell the products, while the UPT SIFE Team “manages” the store.  

Last year the program was so well received that it was added to the Titusville School District curriculum.  School stores were in operation at Hydetown, Pleasantville, Cherry Tree and Titusville Main Street Elementary Schools.

The UPT SIFE Team uses a power point presentation to help train the students.  Topics covered include marketing, economics, accounting, and teamwork.  The students brainstorm ideas and select the items to sell at the school store.  Items range from school supplies, such as binders -- to toys, such as bouncy balls.

This year the UPT SIFE Team began their program at Hydetown Elementary from February 9-12, and continues this week from February 17^-20.  Letters are sent to the students’ parents describing the program.

SIFE is a non profit international organization with active teams on more than 1,500 college campuses in 37 countries around the world.  The SIFE mission is to help individuals from 8 to 80 through free enterprise projects that teach money management, fraud prevention, investment strategies, credit card awareness, and other topics as needs are identified.

For more information, contact SIFE World Headquarters at 1-800-677-SIFE, visit their website at www.sife.org, or contact Melanie Anderson, UPT SIFE advisor, at 827-4415.

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