SIFE team wins regional competition; national run-off next week

Sixteen students from the campus’ School of Business competed April 11-12 against 30 other college teams. The Kokomo team will compete in the national contest next week in Kansas City, Mo.

SIFE helps college business students hone communication, team-building and leadership skills through the development of community outreach projects that teach the principles of free enterprise.

Last fall, the IU Kokomo SIFE team taught basic marketing to 100 area elementary students by helping them make and sell magnets. The project helped the younger students learn about jobs, paychecks, saving and investing. Proceeds were donated to victims of the Sept. 11 attack.

“Competition is based on several things—projects completed, measurement of project results and presentation of results,” said Kathy Parkison, associate professor of economics. Parkison sponsors the IU Kokomo SIFE team along with Joan Hoch, undergraduate business adviser. Students also had to submit an annual report on their projects, according to Parkison.

In St. Louis, students Amanda Musgrave, Kokomo, and Tim Skinner, Tipton, ran computers in support of the IU presenters Dawn Peters, Flora; Josh Davison, Michigantown; Corey Schwartz, Kokomo; and Kristy Rawls, Kokomo. Other IU Kokomo team members in attendance were: Lindsay Fowler, Russiaville; Chris Ols, Greentown; Katryna Bandy, Kokomo; Brenna Myers, Delphi; Jon Zeck, Kokomo; Kian Harrison, Galveston; Adam Wahl, Kokomo; Tia Carmichael, Logansport; Jamie Heyob, Lucerne; and Sam Ventura, Kokomo.

Started by Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton, SIFE is dedicated to changing the world through the teaching of business, finance and economics.