DALLAS, Texas — St. Bonaventure University’s chapter of Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) just missed placing in the top 20 earlier this month at the 2007 SIFE National Exposition here. But SIFE co-president Claire Collins, a senior from Corning, was hardly disappointed.
“All that matters is the lives we have touched, and the fact that we have made a difference and an impact on someone’s life,” said Collins, daughter of Dan Collins, a 1973 SBU alumnus and member of the university’s board of trustees. “I’m sure if you asked any of those students in the Bahamas or at home who we have worked with, they’d give us first place at the World Cup.”
St. Bonaventure’s presentation covered the various projects and activities with which the organization participated during the school year, including the group’s Bahamas service and entrepreneurial trip in January; local area projects, such as teaching computer skills to children and adults; and working the St. Bonaventure Shootout (women’s basketball tournament) held in Corning, N.Y..
At nationals, the winners in each of the 20 leagues on May 7 advanced to the semifinal round of presentations on May 8. St. Bonaventure placed second to Southwest Minnesota State in League 5.
The finish placed St. Bonaventure in the top 40 nationally, in the top five percent out of 840 colleges and universities that have SIFE chapters.
“I am extremely proud of our team,” said SIFE adviser Todd Palmer, associate professor of management sciences. “These students put their hearts and souls into our projects. We can’t wait until next year.”
The SBU team qualified for nationals for the fourth straight year by winning its regional division March 26 in Brooklyn.
“I’m delighted to know they did so well,” said F. Edward Coughlin, vice president for Franciscan mission. “All of Bonas knows what a difference they have made in one small corner of the world, and in lots of other places along the way.”
The presentation team in Dallas included Collins, senior education major, shown in photo; Diana Keller, junior marketing major of Hilton, N.Y.; Sara McCue, senior finance and accounting major of Newark, N.Y.; Brendan Keating, junior marketing and management major of Buffalo, N.Y.; Andrew Mantilia, junior business information systems major of New Canaan, Conn.; Lindsay Pohlman, sophomore journalism and mass communication major from Orchard Park, N.Y.; and Rachel Siepierski, junior journalism and mass communication major from Williamsville, N.Y.