NNU SIFE Take First Place

RG — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 02:25:58 +0000

Though Summer break started in May, Northwest Nazarene University’s SIFE team (Students In Free Enterprise) never rests. While working in different internships around the country, team members worked together in their free time to create a business plan that addressed the Treasure Valley’s hunger needs. The students were in competition with SIFE teams from colleges around the country for a Campbell’s Soup Company grant of $1,000. “Communication was our chief obstacle,” said Loren Pounds, NNU SIFE team’s Vice President. “We traded nearly a hundred emails and used a myriad of teleconferencing and instant messaging programs, but in the end, we formulated a solid business plan.”

NNU’s team was awarded 1st place in the national competition. They fulfilled the competition’s guidelines of assisting hunger victims, building awareness about hunger issues, raising funds to support activities, ensuring longevity of the plan, and partnering with local businesses and organizations. The plan incorporated projects such as creating community gardens that will supply hunger victims with fresh and healthy foods, partnering with area schools to host walk/run events to raise funds and awareness about poverty and hunger issues, sending agricultural supplies and support to villages in Kenya, and hosting a canned food drive competition between area businesses. Along with the $1,000 award, a Campbell’s Soup Company executive will come to NNU to consult visit with the SIFE team and speak in the business classes.

Implementing the plan may be a possibility this coming year. “The $1,000 grant from Campbell’s will go a long way towards helping to put the business plan into action, but we can’t do it alone,” reminded Ashley Morman, NNU SIFE Co-President. “Our goal this year is to reach out of the School of Business to students in other departments: students seeking degrees in social work, art, science, religion, and any other major are needed to make the hunger awareness project work. As with the Greening the Games project for the 2009 Special Olympics (see article dated 2/27), the success of this project depends on students from every part of the university coming together and bringing their unique skills to the table.” If you’re interested in helping with this hunger awareness project, other projects (such as large recycling programs, foreign aid, area entrepreneur support), or have ideas for other projects, students are invited to attend SIFE’s first meeting on Thursday September 3rd at 11:30 in Helstrom 201 or stop by the SIFE table at the Fall Fest for campus clubs.

Contributed by Mark Emerson

NNU Business Blog » CAMPBELL’S SOUP

NNU SIFE Take First Place