SIFE (Student in Free Enterprise) prides itself on changing the world by helping millions of people improve their quality of life and standard of living through a better understanding of the opportunities provided by free enterprise. Entrepreneurship is one of the primary areas that SIFE encourages its members to learn about and teach to other people in the community.

SIFE is one of the largest student organizations in the world with students on more than 1,400 campuses in 37 countries. UTM’s team consists of 21 members, over twice our number last year.

This SIFE chapter has reached out to high schools and college classes to enlighten them on many topics ranging from credit card management to entrepreneurship and business ethics.

On campus, they held two entrepreneur days that brought six entrepreneurs by to share their successes and failures of owning a business.

They presented an ethics presentation to the Institute of Management Accountants and the UTM Athletic Training Society. Their goal was to increase the awareness of why sound ethics are necessary in every field.

By putting together these projects, this SIFE team has learned the value of community service, teamwork and leadership.

Just recently their team presented the projects at the SIFE Regional Competition in Memphis, Tenn., which was held at the Peabody Hotel. Their SIFE team developed a 24-minute presentation accompanied by a PowerPoint display. They were judged by local business executives on creativity and the effectiveness of their projects. They won first runner-up for the presentation and placed among the nation’s top fifteen schools in a special competition category, which earned them a trip to Kansas City, Mo., for the national competition. There, they will find out exactly where theyplaced in the special competition. At the competition, Fortune 500 CEO’s and business executives will be judging presentations and recruiting students.

They are currently looking for hard working, dependable students to help them serve the community in a meaningful way.

This organization is a great tool for job placement for interns and college graduates.

For more information, contact Dr. Steve Jackson in the College of Business and Public Affairs.