September 3, 1998

Suzan Ayers
Staff Writer

“Tell me and I will forget, show me and I might remember, involve me and I will understand” is Students in Free Enterprise’s (SIFE) learning philosophy.

SIFE attended two competitions last spring. The first, a regional competition, was held in Atlanta, Ga. There, SIFE’s presentation team and faculty advisor, and Director of Walker College of Business
William Parrish won several awards, including Rookie of the Year and Regional Champions.

The second, an international competition, was held in Kansas City, Mo., where the team won Rookie of the Year yet again.

“Judges at both competitions were astonished by the fact that the team had only been together for two semesters and had come so far,” said Parrish.

The competitions are venues for the various schools that have SIFE teams, Parrish said. The teams come together to look back on the past 12 months.

Each team showcases projects sponsored the previous year.

The competitions involve presenting a written annual report and oral presentation to a panel of judges. The judges are corporate executive officers of companies from around the country, said Parrish.

SIFE, presenting its first annual report, was in competition with over 500 teams from colleges and universities all over the world.

SIFE’s mission is to educate both students and adults on the importance of free enterprise and the country’s economic system. The club carries out its mission by hosting various projects throughout the year.

President of SIFE Chad Kauffman stated that the organization was founded by Sam Walton, the founder and entrepreneur of Wal-Mart Stores, Incorporated, in 1972. “Wal-Mart is a large contributor, in fact, one of the founding corporations of SIFE,” Kauffman said.

The international SIFE organization is run as a business, with Alvin Rohers as corporate executive officer.

SIFE is an interdisciplinary club with less than half of its members from the College of Business, said Kauffman. The club is international, with teams in Kurgistan, Kozistan and South Africa.

“The international market is really starting to grow. The teams are starting to catch on,” stated Kauffman.

Some of SIFE’s past projects include a play, “Making the Most of Your Money,” written by four or five students.

The play, performed by students in the club, was targeted towards and performed for elementary students.

SIFE administered a test before and after the performance to see how much was known and then learned.

The play taught the importance of economics, such as saving and earning money.

SIFE’s future plans include an Entrepreneur Series in the spring of 1999, where the club will bring in successful entrepreneurs, said Kauffman.