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USF SARASOTA-MANATEE BUSINESS STUDENTS WIN 3rd PLACE AT SIFE COMPETITION IN ORLANDO

(Sarasota, FL, April 12, 2004) - Two years of hard work paid off recently when the USF Sarasota-Manatee team won third place in a Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) competition. The competition included 16 teams from around the state, and as far away as New York and Idaho.

The students representing USF Sarasota-Manatee in the Orlando competition were USF students Duane Hathaway, Nick Stamatis and Bryant Valentine, and New College student Jessica Casciola.

“SIFE is a wonderful way students can learn how to take practical application concepts such as budgeting, marketing and accounting from the classroom into the business community. Working with a nonprofit inspires students to better their community,” said USF Sarasota-Manatee Adjunct Instructor Barry Robbins, who served as team advisor.

The first phase of the USF Sarasota-Manatee project began two years ago. The campus team created an 85-page comprehensive business plan for Manatee Educational Television (METV). The plan was presented to the METV Board of Directors and station management, and is used today as the station’s strategic planning document.

In phase two, the students designed a Case for Support document used to appeal to grantors and foundations. METV, a nonprofit educational station, uses the document to secure grants and donations.

SIFE is a nonprofit organization consisting of 840 participating campuses, including 35 in Florida. Faculty advisors, called Sam M. Walton Free Enterprise Fellows in honor of the late Wal-Mart founder, guide SIFE Teams through a variety of community outreach programs that demonstrate free enterprise.