Alabama State University News April 13, 2012 ASU SIFE Team Wins at USA Regional Competition Students from ASU's College of Business Administration earned a regional championship title during a recent competition. *** The Alabama State University Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) team was named a regional champion at the SIFE USA Regional Competition held April 2 in Atlanta. The event is one of 11 SIFE USA Regional Competitions held across the United States in March and April. Charlie E. Hardy, instructor and Sam Walton Fellow in the College of Business Administration, said the competition provides significant opportunities for students to network with CEOs of major corporations throughout the country. "We have had great support and encouragement from our dean, Dr. Le-Quita Booth, to advance our team to the national level," Hardy added. Houston Thompson, SIFE team president, said the win means much more than just carrying the title. "Our primary mission is to apply talent, skill and knowledge to improve the quality of life in the Alabama River Region," Thompson said. Other team members included Tiera Douglas, Ricki Stromas, Darrion Scott, Donovan Thomas, Dominique McCarroll, Latreashas Kennon, Eldrick Dowdell, DeJuan Gunn, Shemeeka Gentry, Danielle Edwards, Eddie Moore and Tyler Wilson. Kim Smith served as co-adviser to the team. As a SIFE USA regional champion, the ASU SIFE team now advances to the 2012 SIFE USA National Exposition in Kansas City, Mo., May 22-24. ASU is one of nearly 600 colleges and universities in the U.S. and one of only three Alabama universities to advance to this year's National Exposition. Participating students use business concepts to develop community outreach projects that improve the quality of life and standard of living for people in need. During this academic year, the ASU SIFE team organized three projects, each of which was implemented with partnerships from local businesses. The project "I Am" partnered with the ASU youth mentoring group, ASPIRE (Amazing Students Putting in Resilient Effort). The project "RENU" (Recycling to Enrich Nature's Umbrella) involved recycling and partnered with local businesses including Friendship Mission, Montgomery Public Schools, Goodwill Industries, Heritage Barber Shop, Family Dollar, and Waste Management. "The Closet" project partnered with the COPE Pregnancy Center. ASU students Destini Bray, Barry Davis and Sykuanenda Agee-Woods served as project leaders. Each year, the SIFE program culminates in a series of competitions that provide a forum for teams to present the results of their projects, and to be evaluated by business leaders who serve as judges. Teams compete at regional and national levels before advancing to the international level, when each country's champion teams meet at the SIFE World Cup. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-520-0593 Skype:sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree Street NW Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (Lyrasis) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children. Register now http://www.hbculibraries.org/html/2012meeting-form.html for the October 21-23, 2012 HBCU Library Alliance 5th Membership Meeting and the Photographic Preservation Pre-Conference in New Orleans, LA. The Pre-Conference and Membership meeting are open to directors and other librarians.