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Friday, May 16, 2008, LAMONI, IOWA – The Graceland University
Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) team finished third in the nation
at the U.S.A. National EXPO final-four competition Thursday, May 15
in Chicago. It was a hard-fought battle including regional champion
teams from 143 colleges and universities. More than 3,000 students
converged on the McCormick Place Convention Center for the exciting
annual competition.
It was a challenge for Graceland to reach the final-four and there
was stiff competition when they faced off against major
universities, including defending national champion La Sierra
University, the power-house University of Arizona and Texas State
University-San Marcos. Arizona came out on top in what was clearly a
tough decision for the 125 judges – CEOs and top executive officers
from some of America’s most recognizable corporate giants. Arizona
will represent the United States at the World Cup international
championships this fall in Singapore.
SIFE is an international organization formed 38 years ago. Its goal
is to provide college students the tools necessary to spread
information and assistance about free-market, economic principles
and entrepreneurial opportunity to fledgling entrepreneurs around
the world. SIFE has grown from four teams and about 15 students in
1970 to nearly 1,500 teams today involving 35,000 students around
the world.
The Graceland SIFE team won the national championship in 2006 (there
are 800 SIFE teams in the U.S.) and they finished second at the
World Cup competition held that year in Paris, besting 44
international teams. A team from China won the 2006 world
championship.
There are more than 80 Graceland students on the SIFE team this
year, representing 10 academic majors and nearly 10 percent of the
university’s Lamoni campus student population. Members of the team
also represent 10 different countries. Nearly 17 percent of
Graceland’s Lamoni-campus students are international students. Many
students choose to attend Graceland because of its perennially
outstanding SIFE team. Graceland also operates a campus in
Independence, MO, offering stand-out programs in nursing, education
and business.
Graceland University was established in 1895 as a non-sectarian
liberal arts institution by the Community of Christ, headquartered
in Independence, MO. It offers more than 50 academic programs to
students from more than 40 states and 35 nations. For more
information about Graceland University, call 866-GRACELAND or visit
www.graceland.edu.
Randy Meline, reporting
Director of Media Relations
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