Chico’s SIFE Team One of Top Three in USA
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 21, 2002
Kathleen McPartland
530-898-4260
Allison Steltzner, SIFE Executive Director
530-343-3368
Chico’s SIFE Team One of Top Three in USA
From an initial field of more than 770 participating college SIFE teams, 154 regional champion teams moved on to compete at the 2002 SIFE USA National Exposition, sponsored by the Kansas City Business Community, May 12-14 in Missouri. California State University, Chico was named the Radio Shack 2nd Runner-up in the 4-year division and received $9,000, in addition to the $2,000 the team won at the SIFE Regional Exposition held in Seattle in April.
More than 2,500 college students competed, hoping to capture their share of over $150,000 in prize money. The teams presented their educational outreach programs, conducted throughout the year in their communities and around the world, to more than 750 national business leaders and entrepreneurs who judged how well they taught others the principles of free enterprise.
Curt DeBerg, professor of accounting, was named a Sam M. Walton Free Enterprise Fellow for mentoring the students. The award recognizes the time and commitment it takes to be a SIFE coach, mentor, career adviser and friend. DeBerg has worked with the team for nine years. Under his guidance, the Chico team won top honors in the nation in 1999.
The Chico Youth Entrepreneurship Camp was one of Chico SIFE’s winning projects. The camp, conducted in conjunction with the SIFE Team at Butte College, gave 60 children in six northern California cities the opportunity to identify and meet marketing needs. Children learned about technology, ethics, organization and communication.
At the conclusion of the camp, the children sold their goods and services at the First Annual Northern California Virtual and Real Enterprise Trade Fair where students worked closely with college mentors, business supporters and civic leaders.
There have been far-reaching benefits for SIFE students and the organization as a result of their top placement in the national competition.
· Five presenters and two other students have been invited to Brazil for an all-expense paid trip for 10 days in July to present SIFE projects to Brazilian SIFE teams and business sponsors. SIFE Brazil President Miguel Unglieb said, “We wanted to invite the best team in the U.S., and we think the best team is from Chico State.”
· A documentary is scheduled to begin filming in June by the Erwin Media Group Inc. of Chicago, under the direction of award-winning film director Rick Erwin. The documentary, “Teen Entrepreneurs…Living the Dream,” will include Nikita Schottman, age 13, who participated in the Entrepreneurship camp. Nikita’s family immigrated to Chico from Russia in 1998, and his import business is called “A Little Bit of Russia.” To date, he has earned more than $1,000 in profits.
· Former Minnesota Vikings quarterback and coach of the University of California Bears football team, Joe Kapp, joined the Chico team in Kansas City, and is enthused about helping expand the “Cal-High SIFE” project to inner cities. Kapp has agreed to be one of our fall keynote speakers. He is passionate about helping Latino and African American students learn the knowledge and skills that will help them succeed in the workplace.
· SIFE student Jill Zinke was named the National Recipient of the Jules and Gwenn Knapp Scholarship. This award is given to only one SIFE student in all of the United States. Jill now has a “full ride” next semester, including books, tuition, room, board and supplies. She will be included in the July 2002 issue of “Entrepreneur Magazine.”
“In my nine years as SIFE faculty adviser, I have never had a team work so well together. They developed a strategy, carried out its mission, measured results and presented them confidently and articulately to some of the leading business executives in the United States, “ said DeBerg about the winning team.
Founded in 1975 and active on more than 1,000 college and university campuses in 28 countries, SIFE provides students the opportunity to make a difference and to develop leadership, teamwork and communication skills through learning, practicing and teaching the principles of free enterprise. For more information, contact Allison Steltzner, executive director of CSU, Chico’s SIFE chapter, at 530-343-3368 or 707-486-5246.
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