University of Pittsburgh at Titusville SIFE Team

Achieves National Ranking

 

Left to Right:  Professor Melanie O. Anderson, Sam Walton Fellow and Faculty Advisor, Jon Upton (Youngsville), Eric Hasbrouck (Titusville), Alla Doroshkevich (Monessen), Tatyana Pavlov (Lewisburg) and Debbie Smith (Hydetown)

KANSAS CITY, June 2 - The University of Pittsburgh at Titusville’s Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) Team achieved national ranking when they were selected as First Runner up in their league at the 2005 SIFE USA National Exposition.  The exposition was hosted by the Kansas City Business Community May 22-24.  This award places the UPT SIFE Team in the top third of schools competing in the two year league.

“This is an excellent achievement for our SIFE Team,” says Professor Melanie Anderson, Sam M. Walton Fellow and Faculty Advisor.  “We have dedicated many long hours to our projects to help students and our community learn about the free enterprise system.  Our efforts and results were recognized at Regional and National competitions.  Our small team competed effectively against SIFE Teams from universities much larger in size and with greater funding.”

The SIFE USA National Exposition Competition provides SIFE teams with the opportunity to compete against each other and ultimately determine which team had the most impact improving the quality of life and standard of living for members of its community through educating others about the four SIFE educational topics:  Market Economics, Entrepreneurship, Personal Financial Success Skills and Business Ethics.  The competitive format consists of a written annual report and a live 24 minute audio-visual presentation, which the teams present to a panel of entrepreneurs and executives serving as judges.

In the United States, the competition process begins with the SIFE USA Regional Competitions.  Every SIFE Team is invited to attend the Regional Competition of its choice.  Winners at the Regional Competitions then advance to the SIFE USA National Exposition hosted by the Kansas City Business Community.

In addition to the competition, SIFE students had the opportunity to interview for jobs and internships during a two-day Career Opportunity Fair with representatives from more than 50 companies.

The UPT SIFE Team presented 15 of their 25 projects during the presentation.  These projects impacted over 3,700 individuals including elementary, middle school, high school, and college students, as well as senior citizens and other community members.  Examples of the projects include:

  • E-SIFE – school stores set up and run by 4th grade students.
  • SAFE – Seniors Against Fraud via Education.
  • Weakest Link – informed college students how to responsibly use credits cards.
  • Entrepreneurship Network Seminar – provided community members with information to start a small business.

SIFE is a non-profit organization active on more than 1,700 college and university campuses in 42 countries and territories.  SIFE works in partnership with businesses and higher education to provide 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.  For more information, contact Anderson at 814-827-4415 or visit www.SIFE.org.

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