SIFE team takes national title

By Bob Stuart

Published: June 8, 2008

WEYERS CAVE — Members of Blue Ridge Community College’s Students in Free Enterprise team have not only gained practical business skills, they have made the team into a school dynasty in the process.
For the second straight year, the Blue Ridge group won a national championship, competing last month against community college SIFE teams from across the country.
CEOs and other ranking administrators of leading U.S. companies acted as judges for the contest. The goal of SIFE, an international nonprofit organization, is to create economic opportunities by organizing outreach projects and focusing on business ethics and entrepreneurship.
Blue Ridge’s SIFE team members relish winning national championships, but value more the knowledge they have gained from their experience. The students’ projects have ranged from starting a micro lending program for women in Ehtiopia to a rabbit cooperative in Haiti.
With the latter project, the team purchased all the materials and shipped them to the island of LaGonave to start the cooperative. The team created rabbit care and breeding guides to train the eight cooperative members.
Team members say the training is invaluable.
“You learn every aspect of business,” said team member Ellen Wade.
Team member Loc Doa said what he has appreciated most is improving his skills in working with people.
“You can’t be a drill sergeant. It takes people skills,” he said.
Much of the credit for the team’s success is given to Rebecca Evans, a Blue Ridge accounting professor and SIFE team sponsor.
“She is the glue that holds the team together,” said team member Genelle Smith.
Randy Lilly, a Blue Ridge speech teacher who has worked with SIFE team members on their presentations, said, “Rebecca is the reason the team maintains such high standards.”
Evans said working with the team provides a different fulfillment from classroom teaching.
“You are not only giving back to the community, you are teaching others as well,” she said.
She said the lessons students learn will help them in their business careers.
“Corporations are looking for employees who are out in the community doing community service,” she said.
The SIFE team’s success has not gone unnoticed in Virginia. The team received a joint resolution lauding it during this year’s General Assembly session, and a certificate of recognition from Gov. Timothy Kaine last fall.
Evans said the team’s accomplishments are even more remarkable considering the daily challenges for students.
“We’re a two-year college where students have work and families. There are so many things pulling at them,” she said.
Doa was eager to join a club at Blue Ridge, but never believed he would discover one as fun as SIFE.
“You are doing things with children and business-related. There are just a diversity of projects,” he said.
Evans said next year’s team will return mostly intact.
She said for students who might have a curiosity about SIFE, “it reaches across disciplines. If you join our team, you will find something that interests you.”