[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 74 (Friday, May 25, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E974]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING NATIONAL STUDENT BUSINESS CHAMPIONS

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. ROY BLUNT

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 25, 2001

  Mr. BLUNT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the thirty five 
young men and women who comprise the 2001 National Championship 
Students in Free Enterprise Team from Drury University in Springfield 
Missouri. This is the first time in SIFE's 27 year history that a team 
from Missouri has won the national competition sponsored by this 
international organization headquartered in Springfield, Missouri.
  These outstanding young academics achieved their top rating in open 
competition with teams from 111 other four year U.S. colleges and 
universities. The team took top honors for their multi-media 
presentation detailing their year's accomplishments.
  Drury's SIFE team devoted more than 7,000 hours to 35 educational and 
community service projects. All of the projects were designed to 
develop leadership and communication skills through free enterprise 
education. Besides receiving excellent practical experience in business 
skills, the students were also investing themselves in their local and 
national communities.
  Among their almost three dozen projects this year the team continued 
to develop and expand the Young Entrepreneurs Association, a web-based 
organization devoted to free enterprise education for middle school 
teachers and students. Only three years old, the program now serves 510 
middle schools, representing 17 countries and all 50 states.
  The Team also built on a three year relationship with an ``at-risk'' 
middle school in Laredo Texas and this year conducted a three day 
educational program built around the principles of free enterprise, 
ethical marketing and entrepreneurship. The project culminated with a 
``mercado,'' in which 800 customers purchased products designed and 
produced by the middle school students.
  Their win qualifies them for the first SIFE World Cup, to be held in 
London on July 11-13. Teams from 23 nations will compete for the title 
of SIFE Global Champion.
  SIFE is a grassroots student movement active on more than 1,000 
college and university campuses in 48 states and 20 foreign countries. 
Seventy five percent all four year colleges and universities in the 
United States participate in SIFE and their programs reach some 4 
million students annually.
  I know my Colleagues, especially those from Missouri, join me in 
offering their heartiest congratulations to the team members and their 
advisors--Dr. Charles Taylor and Dr. Robert Wyatt at Drury University. 
I further offer the best wishes of all the Members of this Congress for 
a successful competition in London later this summer.

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