La Sierra University’s Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) team finished as first-runner up at the United States National Championship at the 2008 SIFE USA National Exposition finals held in Chicago, Illinois, May 13-15. SIFE leaders announced the University of Arizona the champions, and La Sierra the second place finisher, during an awards ceremony that concluded the three-day event.

La Sierra competed against Texas State University San Marcos, Graceland University, and the University of Arizona in the final round. Teams from 122 colleges and universities qualified to compete in the four-year division at the US championship event during a series of 16 regional competitions held throughout the United States in the spring.  More than 870 colleges and universities in the United States sponsor SIFE teams.

This is the second consecutive trip to the SIFE final four round for La Sierra University, who won the 2007 title in Dallas, Texas.  La Sierra University has won the SIFE USA National championship an unprecedented six times, with previous wins coming in 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2002 and 2007. La Sierra University SIFE also won the International Championship in 2002 in Amsterdam, and 2007 in New York City.

"I am amazed by the ability of our La Sierra University SIFE team to powerfully represent our campus' core values with passion,” says Randal Wisbey, LSU president. “To see them stand on this national stage, affirmed by top corporate leaders as one of the top two teams out of the 122 university SIFE programs in Chicago, is remarkable. I only wish every member of our church family could be with me here to witness the embrace of our campus by more than 3,000 students and leaders of SIFE.

"I am humbled to be a member of a university family in which our commitment to service is celebrated and lived out in the lives of our students and those blessed to work with them,” Wisbey adds. “For Adventist higher education, this is testament of our system's commitment to caring for the needs of our world--lived out in countless ways on our campuses.  I am so pleased the La Sierra University can add to this outstanding heritage."

“Making the final four again just seven months after winning the World Cup in October 2007 is a tremendous accomplishment for our students,” says Johnny Thomas, dean of La Sierra University’s School of Business. “Finishing as first runner-up is outstanding. I’m proud of our student and faculty fellows for anther great year.”

La Sierra University’s 2008 student presentation team included: Christian Tirado, SIFE team student president and an MBA student in management; Amanda Oberg, freshman accounting major; Robert Anguiano, junior management major; Noel Peek, freshman media relations major; and Valerie Smith, junior marketing major. Three Faculty Fellows mentor the La Sierra SIFE students: A. Andrew Truong, Heather Miller, and Jodi Cahill.

During the competition, La Sierra’s SIFE team presented a summary of their projects and activities designed to make a difference in the Riverside community and internationally. Each SIFE team develops a 24-minute live/multimedia presentation, and distributes a four-page annual report to judges summarizing their projects.

Judges at the national competition are executives from SIFE sponsoring companies. For the final four round of competition in Chicago, all judges must be at the chief executive officer level within their respective companies. Judges evaluate projects for creativity, innovation and effectiveness.

For more information on the La Sierra University Students in Free Enterprise program, visit their website at www.sifelink.com.

PR Contact: Larry Becker
Executive Director of University Relations
La Sierra University
Riverside, California
951.785.2460 (voice)