myLoyalist
Home Campus News Loyalist College SIFE Team Finalists at National Competition

Loyalist College SIFE Team Finalists at National Competition

May 12, 2011

In just two short years, the Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) initiative at Loyalist College has gone from start-up to “watch out, we’re moving out in front.”

 

On Wednesday afternoon at Toronto’s Air Canada Convention Centre, on the Canadian Idol stage in front of an audience of 900, SIFE Loyalist showed competitors and judges from across Canada how far they’ve come.

 

The five-member presentation team, representing the 33 Loyalist SIFE contributors, demonstrated their passion for the community projects they have developed and implemented.  They were among the top five teams in the finals round along with competitors from Ryerson University and Memorial University. 

 

In addition to being a finalist in the high-level business-oriented competition, SIFE Loyalist brought home the Campbell’s Can Hunger award. The $1,000 award will be re-invested in the team’s Can Hunger project.

 

The team earned a place at the national competition level after winning the regionals earlier in the spring and receiving an entrepreneurship award.  Last year Loyalist’s inaugural SIFE team won the Best New Team Start Up for Canada and the Spirit of ACE Award for their performance within their league. 

 

“When I heard participants at the conference referring to our team as ‘The Little College that Could’, and saw that our presentations were attracting standing room only, I knew they were headed for the final stages,” said College President Maureen Piercy.

 

SIFE is an international organization, part of ACE (Advancing Canadian Entrepreneurship), which encourages students at post-secondary institutions to plan and to carry out projects that contribute to the prosperity and wellbeing of their communities. SIFE Loyalist’s work over the past year included  working with aboriginal youth in their school,  branding awareness and community enhancement  for the Town of Greater Napanee,  entrepreneurship training  designed for military families, and an anti-hunger program.

 

After achieving exceptional results for each of their projects, SIFE Loyalist developed a comprehensive presentation for the competition.  The rehearsal schedule was intense and included an on-campus session with younger family members on Mother’s Day. The high-impact, visually exciting presentation for the finals was timed to the second within required parameters.

 

 “Our team was professional, passionate, and worked so hard to get here. I couldn’t be prouder,” said faculty advisor/SIFE coach Professor Bob Millard.  “Last year we won the best startup award and this year we’ve won Most Improved Team.  Now everybody is watching SIFE Loyalist.”

 

For information on SIFE visit Enactus Loyalist College (formerly SIFE).

 

– 30 –

 

Media Contact:  Marilyn Warren, Communications, Loyalist College, (613) 969-1913 ext. 2332, mwarren@loyalistc.on.ca or Bob Millard, Business Professor, SIFE Faculty Advisor / Coach, ext. 2415

 

 

 

Categories: