FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The University of Arkansas SIFE (Students in Free Enterprise) team was named regional champion at the SIFE Regional Championship on March 30 at the John Q. Hammons Convention Center in Rogers, Ark. The team competed against 21 other colleges from Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas, Louisiana, Iowa and Texas.

The UA SIFE organization is housed in the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas.

The team will travel to the SIFE National Exposition in Dallas, Texas, on May 6-9 to compete against other four-year college SIFE teams for the United States championship.

“Our SIFE team showcased its projects and accomplishments for the academic year in a 24-minute presentation before a panel of business people,” said Susan Bristow, instructor in the UA information systems department and SIFE faculty adviser.

Some of the SIFE projects include Willy Walton's Chocolate Factory, Solar Boat, SIFE Speaker Series, SIFE N' Style, Granny Goes Surfing, Financial Fitness and Project C.R.E.A.T.E. - all community programs that teach about free enterprise. The judges asked questions at the end of the presentation.” Renee Clay, assistant director of the Walton College Career Development Center, also helped the team prepare for the competition.

Champion team members include Jordan Frevert, freshman logistics major; Tori High, freshman international marketing major; Sara Jackson, senior management major; Becky Miller, senior international marketing major; Amanda Otto, junior international logistics major; Ryan Smith, junior accounting major; and Tanya Welihindha, senior marketing management major.

SIFE is a global, nonprofit organization that is changing the world through highly dedicated student teams on more than 1,600 university campuses in 40 countries. Guided by faculty advisers and supported by businesses around the globe, SIFE teams teach important concepts through educational outreach projects, including market economics, entrepreneurship, personal and financial success, and business ethics to better themselves, their communities and their countries. Each year, SIFE competitions are held worldwide, drawing together thousands of students and business leaders to pay tribute to extraordinary educational outreach projects.

“We encourage students to get involved in SIFE,” said Bristow. “It is truly a wonderful and rewarding service-learning opportunity, and the students take what they learn in the classrooms and apply it in real-life community service. SIFE students can live the SIFE World Headquarters tag line: 'Changing the World.’”