Introducing the elderly to the Internet was among the projects that put Fresno Pacific University students on top in this year's regional Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) competition.
The FPU team was named regional champion and member Brandon Dorman earned the Presidential Distinguished Service Award at the April 4 event in Los Angeles. Dorman works with Senior Citizens Village, located adjacent to the university, to provide computer training and equipment for residents. In all, 18 four-year schools participated in the regional contest.
The team will go to the national event May 12-14 in Kansas City, Missouri, where 186 teams are eligible to compete. Members are Dorman, Visalia; Christopher LaSance, Bakersfield; Heather McCaig, Porterville; Annalise Nickleberry, Vancouver, Wash; Kate Turpin, Oakhurst; and Carolyn Wallace, Ventura. Advisers are Dean Gray, accounting faculty, and Mary Willis, director of the university Career Resource Center.
FPU has placed in each regional it has entered, winning for the first time in 2002. Contestants gave multimedia presentations on activities they designed and implemented on campus or in the surrounding community. Business and community leaders judged teams by results, creativity and innovation, use of resources and documentation of activities.
SI FE was founded in 1975 and is active on more than 1, 400 campuses in 33 countries. The non-profit organization works with business to help college students make a difference and develop skills in leadership, teamwork and communication through the principles of free enterprise.