ROGERS, Ark.– The Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) Team at Missouri State University-West Plains received the Rookie of the Year Award at the regional SIFE competition in Rogers, Ark.

This was the first year the team competed in regionals, which was held March 26.  The event was one of 11 regional competitions held across the country, according to Cathy Proffitt-Boys, assistant professor of agriculture/entrepreneurship and SIFE co-faculty advisor.

During the competition, the team reported results of its community outreach projects to a panel of business leaders through a written annual report and a presentation.  The team was evaluated on how well they used business concepts they learned in class to improve the quality of life and standard of living for those in need in the community, Boys explained.

The SIFE team partnered with several community organizations to complete six projects during the current academic year, and two more projects are expected to be implemented and completed by the end of the summer, she said.  The SIFE team is supported, in part, through the Wendell Bailey Endowment for Entrepreneurship at Missouri State-West Plains.

SIFE is an international non-profit organization that works with leaders in business and higher education to mobilize university students to make a difference in their communities while developing the skills to become socially responsible business leaders.  Participating students form teams on their university campuses and apply business concepts to develop outreach projects that improve the quality of life and standard of living for people in need.  An annual series of regional and national competitions provides a forum for teams to present the results of their projects, and to be evaluated by business leaders serving as judges.  National champion teams advance to the prestigious SIFE World Cup.

In addition to the community aspect of the program, SIFE’s leadership and career initiatives create meaningful opportunities for learning and exchange among the participants as well as the placement of students and alumni with companies in search of emerging talent.

The Missouri State-West Plains SIFE Team consists of Josh Dye and Lacy Mill, both of Bakersfield; Ruth Ann Bennett, Mountain View; Edward Sanders and Shayla Jenkins, both of West Plains; Joseph Wood, Winona; Doug Budd, Willow Springs; April Maloney and Danielle Grudem, both of Caulfield; Abby Luallin, Conway; and Jessica Hampton, Salem, Mo.  Serving as co-faculty advisor with Boys is Barbara Nyden, assistant professor of accounting/entrepreneurship.

For more information about the Missouri State-West Plains SIFE Team, contact Boys at CathyBoys@MissouriState.edu, Nyden at BNyden@MissouriState.edu.