LORAIN COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS IN FREE ENTERPRISE (SIFE ) TEAM WINS REGIONAL COMPETITION

The Lorain County Community College Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) Team returned to Elyria as winners after participating in the Cleveland SIFE USA Regional Competition on Wednesday, March 19.  The event was one of 16 SIFE USA Regional Competitions being held across the United States in March and April. 

After presenting a report of the team’s yearlong community outreach projects to a panel of business leaders, the LCCC SIFE Team was named a SIFE USA Regional Champion. The Team will now advance to the national level of SIFE competition, at the SIFE USA National Exposition, May 13-15 in Chicago.

“I feel like I just won the Super Bowl.  I really enjoy our Fit to be Hired program since it allows me to work with high school students teaching them skills they can use to prepare for job interviews,” said SIFE team member Rick Fernandez.

“I am so proud of our team,” said Maria McConnell, SIFE team advisor and LCCC business professor. “Every year the competition intensifies and to be able to walk away with this award is truly an honor and a testament to the impact our students have on our campus and the community. We are extremely excited to be moving on to the next phase of the competition.” 

During this academic year, the LCCC SIFE team delivered 26 projects in Lorain and Cuyahoga counties, as well as an international project in Rwanda, Africa. 

SIFE is an international non-profit organization active on more than 1,400 university and college campuses in 48 countries.  SIFE teams create economic opportunities in their communities by organizing outreach projects that teach market economics, entrepreneurship, personal financial success skills, and business ethics. 

March 21, 2008