The BYU–Hawaii SIFE (Students in Free Enterprise) team won in the regional competition on Wednesday, March 16, in Honolulu and will be representing the campus in the National SIFE Expo in May. An annual series of regional and national competitions provides a forum for all SIFE 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. BYU–Hawaii has participated in the national competition each year since being organized 13 years ago and was in the top 10 in the U.S. the past two years.
The competition consists of a 24-minute presentation accompanied by a multi-media presentation describing the various projects conducted during the past year, along with a formal written report. Winning teams are selected based on the overall criteria, “Considering the relevant economic, social and environmental factors, which SIFE team most effectively empowered people in need by applying business and economic concepts and an entrepreneurial approach to improve their quality of life and standard of living?”
The six-member BYU–Hawaii presentation team was selected in January and consisted of Jihu Ju, Gombo Chuluun, Catharine Delong, Jared Nelson, Kohl Perkins, and Asia Rikard; multimedia support was prepared by Aaron Nelson and Spencer Turley, with Taylor Rippy responsible for the script. The SIFE chapter is supported with advisors including Bill Neal, Jim Ritchie, Todd Sibley, and Ron Miller along with Kevin Castle who was recently appointed. A local and international Business Advisory Board also provides input and assistance to the local chapter.
Current officers Daniel Ryan, president; Nathan Williams, Asia Rikard, and Donnie Winter, executive vice presidents; and Paige Bischoff, assistant, lead the delegation to the regional event. The BYU–Hawaii SIFE team is one of 1,500 active teams participating in 39 different countries with over 48,000 students worldwide. 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. The BYU–Hawaii SIFE team includes students with a variety of majors focusing on projects on campus, in the community, and in the world. A group recently returned from a project in Tuvalu that gained considerable interest by the judges and members of the audience.
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. BYU–Hawaii SIFE students have had opportunities for internships and full-time job interviews and positions during the regional and national events.
BYU–Hawaii President Steven Wheelwright expressed his support for the team: “SIFE is a wonderful example of the motto found at the entrance to the BYU–Hawaii campus, ‘Enter to learn – Go forth to serve.’ The preparation and work done by the team this year is outstanding and we are delighted to have them representing BYU–Hawaii at the national level. We will be cheering for them.”