Student economists win regional recognition
From left, are Nathan Clodfelter of Winston-Salem, N.C., a sports management major; Tia Fox of Spotsylvania, Va., business administration; Chris Bocanegra of Chapel Hill, N.C., business administration; Holly Jones of Brandy Station, Va., business administration and accounting; and Erica Rainey of Alma, Ga., business administration. Kneeling is Wendell Heyward of John’s Island, a business administration major. Not pictured is participant Tim Moon of Auburn, Ga., an accounting major.
Business students competed in the community outreach arena and participants from Southern Wesleyan University were cited for their excellence.
After presenting a report of their yearlong community outreach projects to a panel of business leaders, Southern Wesleyan University’s Students In Free Enterprise Team was awarded first runner-up in the SIFE USA Regional Competition in Charlotte in April. The event was one of 21 SIFE USA regional competitions being held across the United States in April.
“I am very proud of our students and their commitment to SIFE-related projects. These projects are pretty much additional activities, beyond their academic and athletic demands. The projects are very time consuming,” said Miren Ivankovic, associate professor of economics and finance at Southern Wesleyan University. “We did well in Charlotte.”
During the academic year, the Southern Wesleyan University SIFE Team organized a number of projects in the Central community, including road race, Race For Faith 5K to raise funds for missionary travel, Habitat for Humanity activities and financial education for elementary school students.
Participants included Nathan Clodfelter of Winston-Salem, N.C., a sports management major; Tia Fox of Spotsylvania, Va., business administration; Chris Bocanegra of Chapel Hill, N.C., business administration; Holly Jones of Brandy Station, Va., business administration and accounting; Erica Rainey of Alma, Ga., business administration; Wendell Heyward of John’s Island, business administration; and Tim Moon of Auburn, Ga., accounting.
“SIFE experience is great. We can use our academic skills and apply them through local projects while still in school,” Holly Jones said. “A lot of people benefit from those activities.”
SIFE is an international non-profit organization active on more than 1,800 university campuses in more than 40 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. Projects are judged at competition on creativity, innovation and effectiveness.