Briar Cliff University Media Announcement

BCU SIFE Team Named Regional Champions Seventh Consecutive Year

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Briar Cliff University’s Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) were named regional champions for the seventh consecutive year at the Minneapolis Regional SIFE Competition in March. In the competition, SIFE ranked in the top 20 universities for success skills and environmental sustainability. In May, the team will compete in the National SIFE Finals in Minneapolis.

Team presenters at the regional contest were Matt Collins, Dakota Dunes, S.D.; Jordan Hohenstein, SIFE vice president, Akron, Iowa; Chris Humphries, SIFE treasurer, Omaha, Neb.; Jason Jones, Ponca, Neb.;

Tammy Landon, SIFE project coordinator, Missouri Valley, Iowa; and Kelsey Schomaker, SIFE secretary, Early, Iowa. Members of SIFE’s technical team for the competition were Stephanie Calleroz, Kearney, Neb.; Brent Miller, SIFE president, Rockwell City, Iowa; and Jon Smith, Omaha, Neb.

Briar Cliff SIFE students presented results from 18 community-building projects, including the “Goin’ Green Guru Challenge,” an environmental sustainability program with Sam’s Club; Project E-Siouxland, a project promoting Sioux City entertainment events to college students; We’ll Shop You, a mystery shopping business and Camp PYLOT (Preparing Young Leaders of Tomorrow), a middle school leadership summer camp.

In the past year, BCU SIFE completed over 3,800 hours of team involvement, including a curbside recycling program for Dakota Dunes, S.D., and surrounding areas. SIFE also provided a scholarship and women’s entrepreneurship grant program in Tanzania, Africa, through a partnership with the Siouxland Tanzania Educational Medical Ministries.

“Our SIFE team takes on challenging projects to truly make a difference in the community and beyond,” said Marilyn Eastman, assistant professor of business administration and SIFE advisor at Briar Cliff. “We look forward to once again competing at the national level.”

SIFE is a non-profit organization that works with business and higher education to assist students in developing leadership, teamwork and communication skills through learning, practicing and teaching the principles of free enterprise.

Enrollment at Briar Cliff University is over 1,100 students from 28 states. Students are educated in the Franciscan tradition of excellence in the liberal arts and career preparation in an environment of care, compassion and openness to all. For more information, please visit www.briarcliff.edu.