SIFE: Business groups wins first place
For the third year, the Students in Free Enterprise Team won First Place in regional competition in Chicago, advancing to international competition this month.
The team includes Chad Crane of Peru, Tina Easa of Triumph, Julie Lee of Mendota, Carson Seibert of Marseilles, Kelli Whightsil of Spring Valley and Leslie Wilcox of LaSalle.
The team won the Midwest Regional on the strength of its 11 educational outreach projects, including a Virtual City for area high school students. Through their projects, the six students reached nearly 500,000 people.
Students in Free Enterprise encourages students to take what they have learned in the classroom and apply it to real life situations and to use their knowledge to better their communities through educational outreach projects.
A project that helped the team capture the top regional prize included a stock market game for LaSalle-Peru Christian School fifth-graders. The team also continued development of a story/activity book, "Ready, Set Save," to encourage children to set financial goals.
A "cookies in a jar" project involved working with Dimmick Grade School students to help them learn about starting and running a manufacturing business.
"As a team member it is a fulfilling experience to inspire others, especially children, about the free enterprise system," Easa said. "By winning regionals, we are rewarded for our dedication and effort to produce informative projects."
The team presented both a written report and a multimedia presentation to a panel of business leaders.
Team co-advisor Bob Reese said, "Their presentation was flawless and the projects they accomplished this year taught excellent business skills to all ages. The SIFE students' teamwork, communication and hardwork really paid off."
The team is also advised by Alice Steljes and Mike Sankovich.
The IVCC team and winners at 12 other competitions across the country will compete in the Hallmark Cards/SIFE International Exposition and Career Opportunity Fair in Kansas City May 13 - 15. Winning teams at Kansas City advance to the international competition in London.