The Oakland Post

SIFE's experience at Nationals

By tr
Posted: Monday, May 25th, 2009 at 12:32 pm | Last Updated: Monday, May 25th, 2009 at 12:32 pm Comments Print This Email This Tweet This Delicious

Oakland University’s Students in Free Enterprise took first place in their league at the regional competition for the ninth year in a row, which led the group to compete in the national competition in Philadelphia from May 10-12. At the national competition OU SIFE faced 200 other groups.

The national winners were from Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida, who will move on to Berlin, Germany to represent the United States on the international stage.

The national competition consisted of three rounds: the opening round, the semifinals and the finals, which included four teams. OU has only made it past the second round twice in the national competition but never the semifinals.

“It was my first trip to nationals,” said Brandon Gustafon, executive vice president of OU SIFE. “It was eye-opening for me. You get to see what other teams across the country do. It was a learning experience for me.”

Gustafon also spoke of what SIFE has in store for the future.

“What we want to do is establish more projects,” he said. “We also want to have a longer lasting impact on the community.”

OU SIFE has been around for nine years and is involved with the business world and college students with over 30 active student members.

SIFE as a global organization works with higher education and business leaders, has a total of 34,074 active student members and operates in 41 countries, such as Australia, Japan, India and Kazakhstan.

In the U.S., there are about 500 teams in operation.

SIFE also does several outreach programs, which are used to help teach students the concepts of business and improve the community. Some of the programs that OU SIFE has been a part of have been Bridge to Life and Introducing Middle School Pupils to All Characteristics of Trade.